On the approximately 13-hectare site of the former freight railway yard, the first phase of the Mitte Altona district is nearing completion, featuring around 1,600 residential units, a park, secondary school, social facilities, and commercial spaces. Through the restoration and adaptive reuse of the heritage-protected Kleiderkasse and freight hall buildings, historical traces remain alive and vibrant.

In the eastern part of the district, the so-called crane buildings designed by the architecture and urban planning office André Poitiers—which, together with Arbos landscape planning, is also responsible for the master plan—set a powerful accent that benefits the entire quarter. With six structures, this project impressively achieves an interweaving of old and new. The new buildings advance from the east into the historic freight halls, overlapping with the existing perimeter walls behind them. The building volumes oriented toward the street and plaza provide urban structure to the ensemble and establish a clear framework. In contrast, the sections facing the train station dock onto the restored brick halls and cantilever outward with grand gestures reminiscent of cranes. Echoes of avant-garde architectural designs emerge. The complex structural engineering was handled by the engineering firm Wetzel & von Seht. This construction preserves the character of the historic halls, particularly the characteristic skylight bands that can be experienced in each hall bay. In total, the six buildings contain 242 rental apartments ranging from one to five rooms, eight maisonette units designed for live-work arrangements, and four small commercial units. The interlocking of halls and crane buildings creates a spatial structure featuring private courtyards.

The selection of high-quality full-faced brick in beige-gray tones references the historic freight halls and emphasizes their unity. The façade design of the residential buildings is characterized by floor-height window openings, balconies facing north and south, and loggias facing west and east, arranged in a playfully interpreted grid. These elements rhythmicize the façade and create depth. Through the extraordinary and generously proportioned balconies and the varied roof terrace designs on the two upper stories, each of the six cubes develops its own distinctive identity. These award-winning crane buildings create an exceptionally nuanced presence in the urban landscape.

www.poitiers.de

Photography Credits:

HG Esch
www.hgesch.de
Klaus Frahm
www.klaus-frahm.de

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 01|21)