The green bunker has been hailed as an example of sustainable architecture. The rainwater, for instance, is used to water the lush greenery, which is collected in retention boxes underneath the plants like a sponge city. This aspect saw the project, which was developed and built by Hamburg-based company Matzen Immobilien with Inter+-Pol Studios, Buero 51 Architekten and Phase10 architects, scoop the BuGG "Green Roof of the Year" award presented by the German Green Building Association in 2024. The resulting green beacon is making an impact and the New York Times has listed Hamburg in its latest top "52 Places to Go".
More and more construction projects in Hamburg winning prizes and honours
Hamburg has made a global name for itself as a centre of architectural excellence with spectacular properties since the completion of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. At this year's Marché International des Professionnels de l'immobilier (MIPIM) in Cannes, two projects in Hamburg impressed the jury and the public. The conversion of an anti-aircraft bunker into a green attraction won the award in the "Best Conversion" category. The green bunker St. Pauli, once a drab World War II monument, has had five floors added to its pyramidal shape, creating space for more than 7,600 square metres of green and communal areas. The 1,700 square metre façade has been landscaped and a 300 metre long "mountain path" ascends 58 metres to provide a spectacular 360 degree view of Hamburg. In July 2024, the Reverb by Hard Rock opened with 134 rooms and a variety of food and beverage outlets, as well as a concert and multifunctional hall for up to 2,200 people.
Green beacon sparking attention
The Beehive: Best Residential Project
Inspired by the way bees live, work and care for each other, "The Beehive" has been built in HafenCity. Designed by Danish architects WERK and the Halbinsulaner construction consortium, the project won the MIPIM award in the "Best Residential Project" category. The community-enhancing architecture addresses loneliness, traffic congestion and climate change. The building's design encourages social interaction and inclusion and features a large kitchen for communal dining, a music room and a library. Residents, who also work in the building's own co-working space or in the handicraft workshop, no longer have to commute which reduces the traffic and benefits the environment. The development of HafenCity was also part of presentations at Hamburg's joint stand in Cannes. Hamburg Invest was on site with 20 companies.
Reinterpreted tradition in Pergola
A community-minded idea characteristic of the Pergolenviertel is being developed on a 27-hectare site in Hamburg-Nord. The approximately 1,700 residential units consist of traditional rental and owner-occupied apartments, flats for students as well as several care and assisted-living communities. These are complemented by multifunctional spaces. Transport such as car sharing, cargo bikes and a bicycle garage are also available to highlight sustainability. In terms of urban planning, the Pergolenviertel which is part of the Winterhude district, is reminiscent of Barmbek’s 1920s and 1930s brick buildings with large courtyards. In 2022, the Pergolenviertel won the BDA Hamburg Architecture Prize followed by the German Urban Design Award a year later. The jury praised the standard of living in the new district and its reinterpretation of historical models with features such as pergolas, lots of greenery and novel ideas for environment-friendly transport.
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