HafenCity Hamburg: The European city of the 21st century

With HafenCity, Hamburg is seizing an opportunity of the century: since 2000, a formerly industrial harbour area has been transformed into a lively, diverse district directly on the Elbe – a modern extension of the city centre with maritime flair. Where containers once stood, ten individual neighbourhoods are now growing, with innovative public spaces, spacious promenades and urban life. HafenCity stands for a new kind of city: open, sustainable, future-oriented.

After 25 years of development, around 80 percent of one of the largest inner-city development areas on the waterfront has been completed. More than 10,000 people already live in HafenCity today. Around 4,800 companies are based in the new district, which also includes the World Heritage Speicherstadt warehouse district. In the future, HafenCity will combine housing for 16,000 people, space for up to 45,000 jobs, and tourist and cultural attractions for tens of thousands of visitors every day. Promenades, squares and parks have been created around historic harbour basins. Icons such as the Elbphilharmonie concert hall and the International Maritime Museum dominate the skyline – connected by an efficient local transport network, new underground and suburban railway stations and attractive routes for cyclists and pedestrians, HafenCity is growing into an attractive city where everything is within easy reach.

HafenCity is also a district that breaks new ground. It attracts pioneers and inspires innovative projects. It was quick to adopt ambitious sustainability standards and flood protection measures that combine modern technology with North German tradition.

Architecturally, HafenCity impresses with its high-quality urban design, lively ground floor zones and a diverse range of housing options – with a high proportion of affordable living space. This is complemented by excellent education, childcare and leisure facilities for all generations.

A modern metropolis needs innovative ideas and sustainable solutions. HafenCity Hamburg GmbH (HCH) has been providing impetus for this for more than two decades. The company’s expertise covers the entire process of planning, negotiating and implementing urban development. This not only benefits HafenCity, Europe's largest inner-city waterfront development project, but also the three other major projects for which HCH and its group companies are responsible: Grasbrook, Billebogen and Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld.

Hamburg partner