Tone sharpens in row over Hamburg's landmark concert hall

Apr 7, 2010, 16:34 GMT

Hamburg - The city of Hamburg sharpened its tone in an ongoing row over the delayed construction of a landmark concert hall on Wednesday, by taking legal steps to seek a completion date from building company Hochtief.

'For three months we have been trying to get a binding timetable from Hochtief,' said Karl Olaf Petters of the city's cultural department.

Petters said work was now running ten to 12 weeks behind schedule, and that Hochtief had warned in a letter that delays could last up to a year.

The glass concert hall, designed by a team of Swiss architects, was initially due to open in May 2012. But Christoph Lieben-Seutter, 44, the general director of the Elbe Philharmonic, recently confirmed that this date would not be met.

The large auditorium has presented a particular challenge as it is unlike anything previously designed. Japanese specialist Yasuhisa Toyota has been enlisted to ensure the best acoustics for the room.

Hochtief said they had indeed provided a timeframe, and said everything would be completed on time - except for the large auditorium, which would take an additional year.

'The reason is the delayed delivery of plans and changes to plans that are not down to us,' Hochtief spokesman Bernd Puetter told the German Press Agency dpa.

Hamburg's senate is also arguing with Hochtief over the ballooning construction costs of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, which was originally due to cost taxpayers 77 million euros (103 million dollars).

The estimated cost has since risen to 323 million euros, with additional requirements of 24.5 million euros from the construction company.

Opposition parliamentarians in the city senate have called for an investigation into the reason why the costs have multiplied so dramatically.