The architectural design of the Rainville Campus for the Rickmers shipping group reflects the historically significant identity of the site and its prominent hillside location on the high banks of the Elbe River overlooking the Hamburg Harbor.

The design starts with two structures that respond in both orientation and scale to the particularities of the site and the neighboring buildings. The two buildings are accessed via the plateau that leads along a clearly-defined edge from the upper elevation to the lower-lying Rainville terrace and complements the traditional terraces cut into the slope down to the Elbe. The U-shaped configuration of the main building and the bridgework spanning the terraces provide sweeping views of the Elbe and the Hamburg Harbor. The impact of the buildings is twofold: their disciplined contours and sophisticated materials call to mind the traditional architecture on the high banks of the Elbe, while the contemporary architectural vocabulary suggests a state-of-the-art headquarters for this renowned shipping group.