In my opinion, cities with an identity have one thing in common.
A vision and love for architecture. And when both of them blend together buildings start to come alive.
And don’t be blinded by just the modern buildings. It is also about the space given to them. The harmony with the environment, parks, but also leaving space for ‘artistic neighbourhoods’. A city doesn’t have to be completely neatly brushed off. It would appear too clinical and therefore less livable.
Like the Dockland office building. It stands at one end of Edgar-Engelhard-Kai, a street quay between the Norderelbe, the northern arm of the Elbe River, and the Fischereihafen. The resemblance with a ship is more than obvious.
The buildings are in different area’s of Hamburg. Meaning it will take you a lot of time if you want to visit them walking. The use of a bicycle is advised. Green, easy and cheap. Stadtrad is the app to use.
Media group ‘Der Spiegel’ moved into their new offices in 2011.
30.000 square meters of office space in the HafenCity area. The building is massive!
The ADA 1 building is named after his location.
An der Alster number 1 in the St. Georg district. It sits in front of the Alster lake, another attraction in Hamburg for joggers and to relax, with sinuous curved windows which seem dancing on the facade.
It’s not just steel & glass buildings that sets the tone in Hamburg.
Some of them build early 20th century are also worth a visit.
Both the historic Speicherstadt and the Kontorhaus district were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2015.
It’s in the latter where the Sprinkenhof building is located next to another gem, the ‘Chilehaus’. All bricks and lots of tiny windows. A real ‘backsteinbeauty’
On the corner of the Reeperbahn and Zirkusweg you will find the Tanzende Türme or ‘dancing towers’.
The story goes that those curved towers represent two tango dancers. In the vicinity of the flaming Reeperbahn they are of course not out of place.
Hungry or thirsty? Jump into the elevator and head for the top floor.
There you will find a trendy bar / restaurant ‘Clouds’ (a reservation is advised)
Take a sip of your cocktail and enjoy the view.
When you think of water, you undeniably also think of boats. Give this idea to an architect and he will design floating houses.
Located at Victoriakai-Ufer you can admire them from the bridge at Süderstrasse. In the distance you will see another landmark, the Berliner Bogen.
