The days of the isolated ivory tower are over. Today, science thrives at the heart of the city—and Hamburg's west end, home to the DESY campus, exemplifies how research is opening its doors to society. Science City Bahrenfeld represents a deliberate fusion of research, academia, community, and urban development, designed to create meaningful synergies for all stakeholders.

Located at the northeast edge of the existing research campus, where Luruper Hauptstraße meets Luruper Chaussee, stands Start-up Labs Bahrenfeld—an innovation centre designed by DFZ Architects. Spanning roughly 2,700 m² of usable space, the building brings together office and conference rooms, laboratory facilities, co-working areas, and a cafeteria. A collaborative venture of DESY, the University of Hamburg, and the City of Hamburg, this innovation centre is a cornerstone of the emerging Science City Bahrenfeld. Here, innovative thinkers gain the infrastructure needed to translate research breakthroughs into viable startups, products, and services—creating mutual benefit for Hamburg's scientific reputation and its people. By providing flexible spaces and facilities to founders and young companies in research-driven fields, the centre cultivates an ideal ecosystem for knowledge transfer. The four-storey structure offers small, modular office spaces within an open, collaborative layout, alongside sophisticated laboratory and workshop areas. A striking feature is the bright entrance hall with its glass canopy, which flows through all levels and anchors the building's dynamic core—defined by a distinctive black spiral staircase and a carefully designed lighting installation. The adjacent open cafeteria integrates a purpose-designed tactile guidance system that addresses the needs of blind and low-vision visitors. This inclusive design principle extends throughout the semi-public spaces as well.

The architects selected metal-finish aluminum cladding for the façade—a material that subtly shifts in appearance with changing daylight and sun angles. The expansive glazed north-eastern façade is framed by crisp white concrete elements. A striking spatial offset creates a covered plaza that opens onto Luruper Chaussee, establishing a distinctive landmark at the intersection with Stadionstraße. Just one year after its inauguration, every space in the Start-up Labs is occupied, with expansion already underway.

www.dfz-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Peter Margis
www.petermargis.de

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 04|22)