Hamburg-Bau

Curiosity tugged at me. What was the story behind Hamburg-Bau? This unique neighborhood in Hamburg-Poppenbüttel, built in the 1970s, holds a fascinating tale. Hamburg-Bau was the brainchild of Rolf Bialas, Hamburg’s building senator. He envisioned a solution to the urban exodus, a way to keep families within city limits. The solution? Affordable, single-family homes. Hamburg-Bau’s development began in 1975 on 35 hectares of city-owned land. A unique aspect of the project was the pricing model. The price per square meter of land was linked to the number of children a family had. This was a deliberate attempt to create a socially diverse community within Hamburg-Bau. Architects like A.P.B, Gerkan, Marg and Partners, and Rojan-Sandvoss, Steidle + Partner contributed to the project. They designed various housing types, from detached houses to terraced rows. The goal was to showcase innovative urban living concepts, including “Hamburg-typical” and “metropolis-typical” housing styles. Some “houses to touch” were even built as examples for prospective homeowners. Hamburg-Bau wasn’t without its critics. While some architects praised the innovative designs of certain sections, others lamented the overall lack of cohesive planning. They felt the mix of architectural styles created a somewhat disjointed aesthetic. One interesting, lesser-known fact about Hamburg-Bau is its connection to cable television. In 1976, the Deutsche Bundespost chose Hamburg-Bau as a test area for cable TV. This was because the area was located in the flight path of Hamburg Airport. The airport’s ILS signals interfered with television reception. So, residents of Hamburg-Bau were among the first in Germany to enjoy a wider selection of channels. This included not only the three main German channels but also the two channels from East German television. Hamburg-Bau stands today as a testament to a unique period in Hamburg’s urban development history. In 2022, the entire area, encompassing 222 buildings, was designated a historical monument. The “Built Building Exhibition” ensemble includes buildings on Carsten-Meyn-Weg, Garleff-Bindt-Weg, Gõdersenweg, Kreienkoppel, Lambert-Strus-Weg, Latekopweg, Ohlendiekskamp, and Schusterkoppel 13. Hamburg-Bau continues to thrive as a desirable residential area with a rich history.