Imagine, cotton bales stacked high to the rafters inside the Hafenmuseum Speicher XI. This wasn’t always a museum. It was once a bustling warehouse.
Welcome to the Hafenmuseum Speicher XI. It stands as a testament to Bremen’s rich maritime history. For centuries, Bremen’s identity was shaped by its ports. The Hafenmuseum Speicher XI is located in the Überseestadt. This location is in the heart of Bremen’s evolving harbor area.
The Speicher XI, or Warehouse XI, was built between 1908 and 1912. It served as a cotton storage facility. Overseeing the construction were Eduard Suling and architect Nause. In November 1911, Speicher XI was handed over. In April 1912, Speicher XIII followed. Both four-story warehouses mirrored each other. After World War II, the buildings were repaired and linked.
Did you know that at 403 meters, Speicher XI is Bremen’s second-longest building? Only the U-boat bunker Valentin is longer. Its facade is designed to avoid monotony. This was achieved with protruding stairwells and rows of loading hatches. The base uses brick while the remaining facade areas are plastered.
After 1970, Bremen’s port activity declined. Large areas of the harbor fell into disuse. The former Überseehafen basin was filled. A new district, Überseestadt, was created.
Speicher XI gained protected status as an industrial monument in 1994. It was renovated between 2001 and 2003 by Klaus Hübotter. Architects Schomers and Schürmann won the Bremen Monument Preservation Prize in 2010 for this work.
Since 2010, Speicher XI has been part of the Industrial Culture Route.
Today, the Hafenmuseum Bremen calls Speicher XI home. The Hafenmuseum Bremen opened on February 28, 2004. It is operated by the non-profit Kulturforum Speicher XI GmbH. The Hafenmuseum explores Bremen’s port development. Its exhibits showcase artifacts and detailed explanations of the port’s history. You can also listen to audio recordings of eyewitness accounts.
Step inside the Hafenmuseum Speicher XI. Touch the exhibits. Explore the history of Bremen’s port. Consider how logistics shape our modern world. Discover the stories of those who worked here. The Hafenmuseum Speicher XI bridges the gap between Bremen’s past and its future.