A daring, wavy construction made of glass is rising over the historical Kaispeicher at the west end of the HafenCity: The Elbphilharmonie is warmly welcoming the guests. It has already become the architectural and cultural emblem of Hamburg and is symbolising the spirit of a deeply musical city.The Elbphilharmonie might be the most familiar example for the bridging between tradition and modernism. The combination of brickwalls and delicate glass structures turns the opera into an icon of hanseatic identity. Until the end of the century the former Kaispeicher A was used as a ware house for cocoa beans. Now it is the foundation for 200.000 tons of culture. The glass front is transforming the 110m high building into a huge crystal with a constantly changing appearance. The partly curved and incised glass panels are reflecting the sky, the water and the city.