Imagine ship captains of old syncing their timepieces. This happened right here at Kaiserhöft.
Welcome to the Kaiserhöft. It’s a prominent point in Hamburg’s HafenCity. This spot boasts a rich maritime history. Let’s dive into the story of this fascinating location.
Until around 1865, this area was known as Johns’sche Ecke. It was named after the Johns’ Werft. The Johns family had been here since the early 18th century. For four generations, from at least 1737 to 1859 or 1860, they built ships at the Grasbrookspitze. Before the Johns family, the Hamburg Admiralty used this site. They used it as a storage area outside the city.
From 1856, the construction of a tidal harbor on the Großen Grasbrook was pushed forward. This was part of a long planning process to expand the Port of Hamburg. The shipyards located here were expropriated and relocated. The Johns’ Werft moved to the Kleinen Grasbrook. However, they ceased operations there in 1865.
During the harbor construction, Johns’sche Ecke was straightened. This created a larger entrance to the Grasbrook-Hafen. The new quay that was created was named Kaiserhöft. It was an extension of the Kaiserkai.
In 1875, Johannes Dalmann built the Kaispeicher A here. Its west tower was a landmark of the harbor until World War II. Bombs severely damaged the building during the war. The tower was blown up in 1963. The rest of the building was demolished.
From 1963 to 1966, the second Kaispeicher A was built on the former Johns’sche Ecke. Werner Kallmorgen designed it. From 2005, the Elbphilharmonie was built on its foundations.
The Kaiserspeicher built in 1875 had a clock tower. Until 1934, a ball dropped from it at 12 noon every day. This allowed ship captains in the harbor to synchronize their clocks. Although its neo-Gothic style looked backward, it was modern. The technical equipment made it a state-of-the-art building. Railways ran inside it. Sea ships could be unloaded directly at its quays.
Werner Kallmorgen designed Kaispeicher A as a plain brick block. It replaced the Kaiserspeicher. The original building was damaged in World War II and was blown up in 1963. Kallmorgen’s design didn’t emphasize the point of the building. It had a trapezoidal structure with narrow windows and vertical divisions created by the loading hatches on the north and south facades. The west facade had a large loggia.
Kallmorgen intended to include a canteen for the warehouse workers here. He wanted to give them a view during their breaks. The Hamburg Hafen- und Lagerhaus-Aktiengesellschaft used the opening for its logo.
Herzog & de Meuron’s design of the Elbphilharmonie includes a loggia. It’s a homage to Kallmorgen. Little more than the outer walls of his protected building remained. The existing loading hatches and small windows now have a decorative purpose. The loggia gives a preview of the views from the Plaza. It also gives a preview of views from the upper floors of the Elbphilharmonie.
Today, the Kaiserhöft stands as a testament to Hamburg’s maritime past. It also shows Hamburg’s architectural innovation. From Johns’sche Ecke to the Elbphilharmonie, this location has witnessed constant change. It remains a vital part of Hamburg’s identity.