Beneath our feet lies history at Schuppen 9. This isn’t just another building. It is a piece of Lubeck’s soul. Schuppen 9 was built in 1906. It emerged as a typical harbor shed during the industrial age. The location is right on the Untertrave in Lubeck’s old town. It shows the early expansion of Lubeck’s harbor. Schuppen 6 is nearby. Together, they mark a key moment. Both Schuppen 6 and Schuppen 9 have been protected as historical monuments since 1988.
Schuppen 9 is slightly wider than Schuppen 6. It is a long structure. It features a timber-framed warehouse design. Brick additions stand to the north and south. The building rests on pile foundations. It is topped with a gently sloping gable roof. Office spaces are integrated. The original wooden rolling gates remain on both front sides.
The north and south gable structures display brickwork. These elements add to the harbor’s aesthetic. Decorative brickwork is evident in the form of stepped friezes and cornices. An original brick central gable faces the street. Large wooden warehouses fill the building’s center. Brick walls punctuate these halls. Windows face the harbor. The stone head-ends once housed offices. They also included break rooms and sanitary facilities. These served warehouse supervisors, workers, and customs officials.
The Lübeck construction firm W. Torkuhl became the first tenant in 1906. Until the 1930s, the Svea shipping company used Schuppen 9. Their ships traveled to and from Stockholm and Kalmar. They loaded and unloaded cargo here. A pearl barley mill operated in Schuppen 9 in the 1960s. Before its historical preservation in 1988, BBN Baustoffhandel Brockmann Nordmark was the last recorded user.
Schuppen 6 and Schuppen 9 are the last two remaining quayside sheds. There were once nine sheds on the city side of the Untertrave. They are part of a group of 22 similar harbor sheds. These were built up to 1909. They followed plans by Peter Rehder, a water construction inspector. These sheds replaced earlier structures called “Schauer”. These earlier sheds often leaned against the city wall remains. Some provisional sheds were even repurposed hospital barracks. These came from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.
The design of the modern quayside sheds met the needs of early industrial port handling. The harbor railway arrived in Lubeck around 1850. The city’s first train station was built on the central Wallhalbinsel. Harbor basins for seagoing ships connected to overland trade routes. You can still see the tracks of the old harbor railway on the harbor side of Schuppen 9. The facade follows the tracks. They delivered goods to the shed doors. These goods were temporarily stored. Then they were loaded onto ships.
The city’s medieval fortifications were removed to build the railway. The timber storage areas were dissolved. The Trave River’s banks were raised to a uniform level. This created solid quays. The riverbed was widened and deepened for larger steamships. Smaller sailing ships still used the section at the Mittlere Wallhalbinsel. The Wallhalbinsel connected to the city quays and tracks. This happened with the construction of the swing bridge in 1891-92.
Today, Schuppen 9 is a modern event location. It is located in Lubeck’s historic harbor. The Great Hall can hold up to 500 people. The Blue Salon accommodates up to 200. Tradition meets modernity here. This creates a maritime atmosphere. Schuppen 9 hosts corporate events and meetings. It also hosts festive congress evenings. Whether you enjoy an aperitif on the Trave or a view through the panoramic windows, Schuppen 9 offers a unique setting. In February 2025, a political rally of the FDP with Christian Lindner took place in Schuppen 9.