Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus
Hamburg, Germany
10.04.2015
The Hamburger Speicherstadt and Kontorhausviertel with Chilehaus - A Unique UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Hamburger Speicherstadt and Kontorhausviertel with Chilehaus in Hamburg, Germany, is a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the city's economic and architectural history. The Speicherstadt, or Warehouse District, was built between 1885 and 1927 and is the largest warehouse complex in the world. The Kontorhausviertel, or Office Building District, was constructed between 1920 and 1945 and features innovative brick expressionist architecture. The Chilehaus, a striking office building completed in 1924, is a prime example of the Kontorhausviertel's unique style.
The history of the Speicherstadt can be traced back to the late 19th century when Hamburg was one of the largest ports in Europe. The city's booming trade and shipping industries required a large and efficient storage facility, leading to the construction of the Speicherstadt. The warehouses were built on oak piles and feature red brick facades, giving the district a distinct appearance. Today, the Speicherstadt is home to museums, restaurants, and other cultural institutions.
The Kontorhausviertel, located adjacent to the Speicherstadt, was developed in response to the growing demand for office space in the early 20th century. The district is characterized by its unique architectural style, which combines elements of brick expressionism, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau. This style was influenced by the German Werkbund movement, which aimed to combine art and industry in architecture. The Chilehaus, designed by renowned architect Fritz Höger, is a prime example of this style and is considered one of the most important buildings in Hamburg.
The Hamburger Speicherstadt and Kontorhausviertel with Chilehaus was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 for its outstanding universal value. It represents the city's economic and architectural development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is a testament to Hamburg's role as a major trading center in Europe.
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Speicherstadt and the adjacent Kontorhaus district are two densely built urban areas in the centre of the port city of Hamburg. Speicherstadt, originally developed on a group of narrow islands in the Elbe River between 1885 and 1927, was partly rebuilt from 1949 to 1967. It is one of the largest coherent historic ensembles of port warehouses in the world (300,000 m2). It includes 15 very large warehouse blocks as well as six ancillary buildings and a connecting network of short canals. Adjacent to the modernist Chilehaus office building, the Kontorhaus district is an area of over five hectares featuring six very large office complexes built from the 1920s to the 1940s to house port-related businesses. The complex exemplifies the effects of the rapid growth in international trade in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Speicherstadt (German pronunciation: [ˈʃpaɪ̯çɐˌʃtat], literally: 'City of Warehouses', meaning warehouse district) in Hamburg, Germany, is the largest warehouse district in the world where the buildings stand on timber-pile foundations, oak logs, in this particular case. It is located in the port of Hamburg – within the HafenCity quarter – and was built from 1883 to 1927.
The district was built as a free zone to transfer goods without paying customs. The district and the surrounding area have been under redevelopment for many years as the port industry has evolved. As an exceptional example of Neo-Gothic and modernist architecture, and for its testimony to the development of international maritime trade, the Speicherstadt was awarded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site on 5 July 2015, along with the Kontorhaus District.
