At the BallinStadt Emigration Museum, the current status of the plans for the new Grasbrook district was presented and discussed.
© Miguel Ferraz
Where will daycare centers and schools be built? What is being done to ensure accessibility? What transport connections are planned? How expensive will the living space be? How will it be ensured that not only high-priced stores move into the first floors? Where will I be able to park? What water sports will be possible? And of course: when will everything be ready?
The 80 or so visitors who came to the BallinStadt Hamburg emigration museum at Veddel on the evening of 25.09.2024 were very curious to find answers to their questions. At the "Grasbrook in Dialogue" event, they were able to find out about the current status of the plans for the new Grasbrook district. Around 3,000 apartments and 16,000 jobs are to be built south of the Elbe, as well as a subway station, cultural, sports and commercial facilities. HafenCity Hamburg GmbH is responsible for the development of the Grasbrook district.
Citizen participation has accompanied the project from the very beginning. It enables the public to help discuss the development of the district and for those responsible to find out what is particularly important to people. The results of the workshops and online public participation were incorporated into the competition dialog, which resulted in an open space design concept for Hamburg's new district. The design planning for the project is now almost complete and the first development plan is due to go on public display in the first quarter of 2025.
© Miguel Ferraz
Overview and theme islands
A good time for the dialog event, moderated by Professor Klaus Overmeyer, Managing Director of Urban Catalyst. Many of the guests, both young and old, live in the Grasbrook neighborhood. Andreas Schneider and Bianca Penzlin, the responsible area coordinators at HafenCity Hamburg GmbH , began by providing an overview. Jonathan Stimpfle from Vogt Landschaftsarchitekten gave an introduction to the open spaces - the renowned Zurich-based office designed the urban development and open spaces in the new district together with Herzog & de Meuron. Afterwards, visitors were able to ask the planners their questions, express their approval or criticism or simply listen at six themed islands.
The stations were dedicated to the following topics: "Overview", "Living, Supply, Culture", "Living & Working", "Parks, Squares, Promenades, Sports & Play Areas", "Environment & Climate" and "Mobility & Traffic". Representatives from HafenCity Hamburg GmbH and other experts were available to answer questions in lively discussions at each of them. With the help of digital planning tables from the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and the BIM model from HafenCity Hamburg GmbH for the new district, both the big picture and the details were clearly demonstrated.
An evening full of insights
It was an evening full of insights, not only for the visitors, but also for those responsible. One of the most important: people have a great need to find out what life and everyday life in the new district will look like in the future. And they want to make sure that their ideas and needs are not neglected. The exchange enables both. There should also be opportunities for this in the future.
Author: Gunnar Herbst
© Miguel Ferraz