“South Seas House?” a voice echoes in my memory. It is a name that whispers tales of distant lands. The S\u00fcdsee Haus stands before us. It is a testament to Hamburg’s rich trading history.
In 1911, four entrepreneurs gathered at the Hamburg Stock Exchange. They were Franz Albert Bach, Johann Maegli, Otto Friedrich Bock, and Eduard Hurry Ringel. They acquired this prime piece of real estate. It was located between M\u00f6nckebergstrasse, Schweinemarkt, and Spitalerstrasse. The price was 1,661,100 Reichsmark.
They commissioned architect Carl Gustav Bensel. He designed a traditional building. The S\u00fcdsee Haus was completed within a year.
When it opened in 1912, 54 offices and shops were already rented. Among them were Schlubach & Co. and the Mittelamerikanische Plantagen Aktiengesellschaft. These companies were founded by Heinrich August Schlubach. His son Roderich was married to Eduard Ringel’s daughter. Ringel was involved in South American business. This connection led to the building’s name: S\u00fcdseehaus, meaning South Seas House.
Other tenants included Max Bahr’s jute spinning and weaving factory. There was also a representative of the Hannoversche Waggonfabrik for electric cars. The Hamburg-Mannheimer Versicherung and Albingia insurance companies also resided here. Various import and export firms and brokers were among the tenants. The ground floor housed upscale textile and gourmet shops. One notable shop was the Ernst von Spreckelsen fashion house.
In the 1920s, more international companies moved in. These included Yale, the lock manufacturer. Also Eduard Pulvermann’s US firm Markt & Co. In 1930, Schlubach & Co declared bankruptcy during the banking crisis.
The S\u00fcdseehaus suffered heavy damage during the air raids of 1943. By 1944, only four tenants remained. One was the police president. He used the cellars as an air raid shelter. The facades and four gables survived. The roofs were repaired after the war.
In 1949, Peek & Cloppenburg moved in. The fashion store gradually expanded. In 1958, architect Titus Felixm\u00fcller renovated and modernized the building. The gables were removed. Two stories were added. The upper story was clad in copper. A pergola was added.
By 2016, Peek & Cloppenburg occupied the entire S\u00fcdseehaus. The great-grandsons of Franz Albert Bach, Claudia and Mathias Bach, manage the property. They also own shares in the Levantehaus.
So, the S\u00fcdsee Haus stands today. It is a landmark. It links Hamburg to the world’s oceans and trade routes. It reminds us of the ambitious merchants who shaped the city. It also reminds us of their dreams.