University magazine project.

Magazine feature, written, photo elements created in Photoshop and layout in InDesign.

Travel sections: HafenCity, Hamburg,

The second biggest city in Germany, Hamburg is known for many things. As the port at the end of one the biggest and busiest rivers in Europe, it has a rich, industrious history. Nowadays the draw for tourists centres around its live music scene and unique sex industry.

But look a little further, and you’ll discover a dizzying mix of old and new. HafenCity is Europe’s largest urban development project, yet houses within it Speicherstadt, a protected UNESCO world heritage site.

Defined by UNESCO as a “masterpiece of human creation with outstanding universal value” Speicherstadt means ‘city of warehouses’. Built around the turn of the century, it was designed as a ‘free zone’, where goods coming into Hamburg could be traded without paying customs. It is the largest warehouse district in the world.

As the need for a free zone diminished and the port itself became obsolete due to the increased size of container ships, new opportunities opened up for the area. The development of HafenCity around began less than ten years ago and is expected to continue until 2030.

Today the area is the most desirable place to live in the city. The preserved red brick buildings tower over rivers and canals, now all connected by modern steel bridges. It’s home to museums, outdoor art, and unique urban spaces. “It’s a very expensive area” says Miranda Villacis, an infographic designer and Hamburg native. “Most of us cannot afford to live there, but it’s awesome to visit.”

One of the benefits of the redevelopment are the new industries brought into the city. “My favourite spot is Hong Kong Street.” Says Villacis. “It’s is full of creative agencies, galleries, recording Studios and start-ups.”

The most recognisable building is the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Known affectionately as ‘Elbie’, its design mirrors the water and ships it faces. Villacis describes it as ‘The Jewel of HafenCity’. “It’s a strange but beautiful building that is supposed to remind you of water and freedom, the view is just amazing.”

The concert hall project has been controversial with locals. The final cost was almost €800m, several times its original budget, money some feel could have been better spent elsewhere. It is hoped the building will one day become as iconic to Hamburg as the Eiffel tower is to Paris

The spirit of Hafencity is one of preserving the old and embracing the new. Something the area has had to do in the past. “To me, the coolest thing about it is how it came back after WWII.” Says Villacis.

In 1943 Operation Gomorrah destroyed almost half of the Speicherstadt with one of the largest firestorms ever raised by the British and American air forces. Within twenty years, the majority of the damage had been repaired. The areas completely destroyed are now occupied by modern offices in-keeping with the red brick originals, such as the Hanseatic trade centre.

This mesh of old, new, redeveloped and repaired sections can make walking around HafenCity can be a disorientating experience. The buildings use their full height, connecting the streets by bridges above and stairs below. Turn a corner and you could find an open space filled with sculptures or catch an amazing view up the canal. Peer in a window and you might see an old workshop, or a brand new coffee shop.  As Villacis says, “It’s one of my favorite places to get lost in Hamburg.”