June 9, 2012
Hamburg's New HafenCity Forecasts the Urban Future
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 4 MIN.
Hamburg, Germany - An exemplary showcase for urban planning, livability, and architecture, Hamburg's new HafenCity (Harbor City) district continues to expand in size and significance. As further construction is completed, upscale retailers, restaurants, and cultural venues are moving into the trendy new neighborhood, attracting visitors and locals alike. HafenCity is not only Europe's largest inner-city development project, but has also become one of Hamburg's must-visit tourism spots.
The newly designed high-end neighborhood spreads out over 392 acres in a former industrial dockland area, located between the Elbe river and the historic red brick warehouse district. The modern design, waterfront location, and ueber-hip vibe of this visionary project make HafenCity a sought after place to live, work and play.
A model for sustainable urban planning, HafenCity earned Hamburg the designation "European Green Capital." Visitors can explore the area on waterfront pedestrian and bike pathways, and watch ocean liners and cruise ships passing on the Elbe River.
The HafenCity district is growing quickly, and more and more places to eat, shop, and sleep are opening.
The 25hours Hotel HafenCity opened in July 2011 and has already been awarded the prestigious Travel+Leisure Design Award 2012. Located near the docks, the hotel boasts a cool maritime theme, individually designed guest rooms, a hearty restaurant, Mini rental cars, and discounts for guests under 25 (www.25hours-hotels.com
HafenCity's restaurants and shopping are mainly located in the central �bersee Quarter. Opting for open skies rather than indoor malls, retailers include international and local labels, but also grocers and bakeries.
Among the spring 2012 openings is the young German fashion label Dannemann-Pure (www.dannenmann-pure.com
The design market Der.Die.Sein Markt opened its season in March 2012, and is the event of choice for unusual souvenirs, jewelry, fashion, handcrafts and art. Taking place each Saturday in the Unilever House inner courtyard, the market features some 45 local artists and designers, live music, and sweeping Elbe river views.
The completed part of HafenCity already offers a choice of restaurants, ranging from fish sandwiches to gourmet dining. New additions to the culinary scene are LaBaracca, open since in September 2011, which offers upscale Italian fare in a dining room decorated with a mix of vintage and contemporary designs (Sandtorkai 44).
The opening of Coast by East and the SansiBar Wine Bar in early summer of 2012 is highly anticipated. Inspired by the legendary SansiBar on the island of Sylt, the new venue at Marco Polo terraces serves up an Asian cuisine rich on seafood (Grosser Graasbrook 14).
Bordering HafenCity, in the historic Speicherstadt warehouse district, Wasserschloss Speicherstadt opened in fall of 2011. Situated in a much photographed castle-like brick building, the restaurant serves reasonably priced regional and international fare (Dienerreihe 4).
Scheduled to open in November 2014 at the tip of the Sandtorhafen, the prominent center piece of HafenCity, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, is already an architectural and cultural event of epic proportions. Poised to become Hamburg's new landmark building, it ambitiously stretches out over the Elbe River like the bow of a gloriously illuminated ship.
Envisioned by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, the glass fa�ade on top of the solid brick foundation - a former cocoa warehouse - seems to be floating above the water. Even in its not-yet-finished state, the building is breathtaking. Construction site tours are being offered, but advance reservations are required at (+49 (0) 40 357 666 66). www.elbphilharmonie.de
A must see is the largest private maritime collection in the world. Since it moved into its new digs in Kaispeicher B, a historic red brick warehouse in HafenCity, 150,000 visitors have marveled at this one of a kind accumulation of maritime objects.
Summer in HafenCity means relaxing on the waterfront. Every Sunday from early June through the end of August a myriad of activities unfold along the water: live music, dance and fashion are just some of the highlights of this year's HafenCity summertime program. www.hafencity.com
Information on HafenCity can be found at Kesselhaus InfoCenter, an historic brick building dating back to the end of the 19th Century. Walking and bike tours of HafenCity are offered throughout the summer. (Am Sandtorkai 30). More information on HafenCity at www.hafencity.com
Tourism information on visiting Hamburg at www.hamburg-tourism.de
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A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
