ArchiTeam News

ArchiTeam spent 3 days at Hamburg recording the modern architecture buildings.

Architecture in Hamburg

Hamburg has been renowned for its bold urban planning for over a century. Such striking architectural designs as the Chilehaus dating from the 1920s or today’s HafenCity Hamburg also set new yardsticks for living and working in a big city. Much has been done in recent years to make the city centre between the Alster and the port still more inviting. In the 1970s, the fi rst spacious shopping passages were built there. Today the new Europa-Passage and the new layout for Jungfernstieg are in the same spirit.

Architectural “String of pearls along the Elbe”

For some years, the edge of the port along the northern bank of the Elbe between St. Pauli and Övelgönne has gradually been transformed into an attractive ensemble of buildings housing offices, apartments, restaurants and shops. Along the riverbank zone barely 100 metres wide but continuing for several kilometres, converted former port buildings alternate with unconventional new blocks. Fish is still processed here, but a new and colourful mix of offices, apartments and shops, all eager to be near the water, has sprung up alongside the fish merchants. They can all enjoy close-up views of passing containerships, now no longer the sole privilege of villa dwellers (and shipowners) downriver in Blankenese. This string of architectural pearls underlines the city‘s affection for the water and has today become a magnet for tourists. One outstanding example of spectacular architecture by the water is Hadi Teherani’s “Docklands” office block on Van der Smissen Strasse.

Architectural history in the Kontorhausviertel

Architectural history was written in the Kontorhausviertel in the southern part of Hamburg’s Altstadt, in close proximity to Speicherstadt and between Steinstrasse and Messberg. Following World War I, under Fritz Schumacher, superintendent of buildings, three for those days gigantic offi ce complexes were erected there. Chilehaus, Messberghof and Sprinkenhof all today enjoy protection as Listed buildings, being three significant buildings of the Expressionist school in the North German redbrick Gothic style of that era. The most notable is Chilehaus, with one end shaped like a ship’s bow. Efforts are now under way to have the Kontorhaus viertel, along with Speicherstadt, declared a World Heritage site by  UNESCO.

Architecture from Hamburg for the World

Hamburg is seen in the architectural world as an Eldorado. Its futuristic pioneering urban planning and boldness in pursuing new courses in architecture on the spot are not the only recent reason for this. Some of the city’s leading architectural practices are underlining the city’s reputation as a trendsetter with impressive designs and bumper projects for places far distant from the Elbe metropolis.

The HafenCity Project

A new part of town is emerging: HafenCity – currently Europe’s largest inner city development project – provides a pattern for the development of a European city centre at the water’s edge.

HafenCity’s development initiated by the City of Hamburg is setting new standards at least on a European scale: a new 157 hectare city centre district is being created to accomodate a mix of office and residential use, retail, restaurants as well as cultural and leisure facilities. But the HafenCity project is not unique solely because of its size. It differs from similar urban development projects in that the area is centrally located within Hamburg’s city centre and that its quality standard is reflected in its fine-grained mix of uses, exquisite liveliness and innovative development process. In addition, it is furthermore distinguished by the high quality of its architecture and open space design and its multifaceted references to the water. The intensive reciprocal interactions between land and water are simply unique. HafenCity will not be surrounded by dykes, nor will it be cut off from the water. With the exception of the promenades, the total area, i.e. streets, parks and development sites are raised  7.50 to 8.00 metres above sea level providing it with a new, unique topography, while concurrently providing access to the water and emphasising its typical port atmosphere.