Grasbrook is able to develop its own urban scenario on the banks of the Elbe and in the center of Hamburg. The advantages of open waterfront locations provide the district with a special character and an independent identity. Innovations in urban and landscape design, mobility and infrastructure offer the opportunity to become a “place for experimentation” as regards sustainability and a viable urban development. At the same time, the “opening up of the island” in close proximity to the surrounding city is of great importance: existing physical barriers have to be overcome and new footpaths and cycle ways, crossings and transitions to HafenCity, Rothenburgsort, Wilhelmsburg and, above all, to Veddel have to be created. In order to connect Grasbrook and north Veddel, the extension of the U4 subway line to Grasbrook is essential; an extension to Wilhelmsburg should be planned as far as possible. New public ferry services can also provide attractive connections with surrounding districts.

The Grasbrook district will captivate through its diverse and mixed neighborhoods. Differentiated urban design and flexible building typologies allow not only a broad spectrum of housing types for different lifestyles and needs, but also a dense coexistence of living and working. Family-friendly housing and intergenerational living are important concepts for the mix. The structure of commercial uses ranges from small to large, allowing a mix of high-tech and low-tech. Different working environments, ranging from large companies to research institutions or small startups, are mixed in with local trades, artisanal manufacturers, urban production as well as culture and creative industries.

It is only taken together that Grasbrook and Veddel form a larger unit. Both will benefit from the social and cultural services, new educational facilities, supply centers and public open spaces. Community spaces, meeting places and social infrastructure such as schools, medical centers, shops, and cultural and sports facilities will be considered from the outset. Central spaces for social interaction promote neighborly exchanges and cultural diversity in the district. Grasbrook’s immediate proximity to the city and the port, on the other hand, requires innovative and exemplary ideas for a compatible coexistence that resolve problems like noise and emissions.

Existing buildings and open spaces lend the district its special identity and will if possible be incorporated into the gradual transformation process by making temporary uses accessible to the public. Consideration should be given to (partially) retaining the Überseezentrum warehouse. Particularly the historically significant listed warehouse G and the neighboring listed buildings F and D should be considered. Grasbrook is made an experience at an early stage. Interim uses form an integral part of its development stages and make an important contribution to the activation of special places such as the river banks and the listed buildings at Saalehafen.

A public park with promenades, several areas with access to the water’s edge and water-related sports and leisure activities can make Grasbrook a city-wide attraction. The unspoilt “wild urban nature” is an existing asset in the district that should be integrated into the open spaces and enhanced as far as possible (increase in biodiversity). Diverse open areas for a diverse neighborhood. Multifunctional designs of parks, green spaces and river banks to serve different user groups and their needs for recreation, interaction and various sports facilities. In the same way, partly flexible open spaces without defined uses are created for appropriation. The Elbuferpark is of particular value to the people of Hamburg and will be developed early on in the process.

Grasbrook becomes a laboratory for the environmentally sustainable city. Opportunities for sustainable development are offered in comprehensive concepts for local material cycles such as recycled building materials, a high energy efficiency of buildings and the production and efficient use of renewable energies and sustainable consumption through local value chains (direct marketing of regional products and promotion of urban agriculture). The activation and use of local energy sources – e.g. water from the Elbe (tidal power plants and cold/heat pumps), geothermal energy, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, biogas, etc. –could contribute to long-term decentralized energy production and a self-sufficient energy supply for Grasbrook. Neighboring districts like Veddel also benefit from new energy concepts in the integrated network.

Grasbrook becomes a trailblazer for post-fossil mobility. The focus is on the design and organization of a low-car neighborhood and the promotion of alternative mobility providers. Attractive footpaths and cycle ways, the expansion of local public transport, alternative means of transport, mobility providers, rental systems and sharing concepts promote sustainable multimodality. Grasbrook will not only offer land-based mobility but also extend water-based public transportation. Intelligent logistics concepts may use water as a transport route and organize delivery to central delivery and distribution points this will greatly reduce delivery traffic on the roads in the neighborhoods.

Grasbrook can only become innovative and unique if it offers participation opportunities in the development process for the broadest possible spectrum of stakeholders. The experience and ideas of various, also local institutions and initiatives will be integrated into the process. The allocation of building plots is based on the guiding principle of addressing as many different clients/ developers as possible and promoting new concepts for mixed residential and commercial areas as well as a sufficient amount of affordable housing. It supports various cooperative development models for joint building ventures, communal housing and the establishment of commercial premises.