New rental space in Oberhafen

Where radishes and turnips used to be stored in goods sheds and railway station buildings, a creative hotspot with a view of the harbour and Elbe has been under development since 2011. The careful refurbishment of the existing buildings preserves the industrial character and at the same time opens up the approximately 67,000 m² site for new creative ideas. Over the past ten years, we have found many exciting projects for the Oberhafenquartier in six rounds of tenders, including the successful Hobenköök restaurant concept and filmfabrique, the innovative independent film house with co-working spaces.

The neighbourhood is now entering the next development phase: we are looking for ambitious and creative tenants for nine creative spaces and one club space in two expressions of interest that will further shape the character of Oberhafenquartier and enrich Hamburg's cultural and creative scene. We attach particular importance to the public impact, the potential to create lively places and integration into the existing neighbourhood.

Creative spaces: Hall 2, Hall 3 and Alte Bahnmeisterei (ground floor)

With the "Halls 2 and 3 and Alte Bahnmeisterei (ground floor)" expression of interest, we are offering nine basic refurbished rental spaces (164 - 530 m²) in the shell, ideal for workshops and production spaces, studios and exhibition spaces. In order to keep the rents affordable in the long term, the refurbishment will be carried out to a low basic standard. Energy-saving measures are limited to the bare essentials - ideal for temporary, innovative projects. The rental period starts on 1 September 2025.

Club space: Lokschuppen & Alte Bahnmeisterei (ground floor)

For club operators, we offer a space of 548 m², divided into a 296 m² event room in the Lokschuppen and a 252 m² ancillary space in the Alte Bahnmeisterei. Many will remember the space as the legendary Club Moloch. It is now being refurbished with appropriate sound insulation and a licence for noisy uses such as live music, sound or video installations. The lease will start on 1 September 2025.

Assessment criteria and selection

Your concept should not only be creative and innovative, but also economically viable. It is important that the idea fits harmoniously into the lively and creative environment of the Oberhafen district and promotes the visibility of Hamburg's creative scene.

Development management for the area is the responsibility of the municipal HafenCity Hamburg GmbH, representing the special assets of the city and harbour, and Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH. Local stakeholders are also increasingly contributing their perspectives to the development of the neighbourhood. The user committee "Oberhafen 5 1 e.V." has represented the interests of the Oberhafen community since 2018 and is actively involved in various areas such as the design of open spaces, the rental of temporary "test fields" in the Gleishalle and the coordination of events (including Oberhafen Day, Hamburg Summer of Culture). The committee is involved in jury decisions on the allocation of rental space.

How you can apply

If you would like to be part of this exciting development, please apply to HafenCity GmbH and Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft by 12 January 2025. All details about the spaces and requirements can be found in the tender documents.

Photo: Miguel Ferraz