Beneath our feet lies a story etched in green. This is Lohsepark. It is not just a park. It is a place of memory and recreation in Hamburg’s HafenCity.
Lohsepark is the largest connected green space in HafenCity. It spans 4.4 hectares. The park offers an idyllic area for relaxation, sports, and nature experiences. Imagine this space as the green lung of the neighborhood.
The park is named after Hermann Lohse. He was a famous architect. Vogt Landscape Architects designed Lohsepark. The first section was built in 2013. It was fully completed in July 2016. A big summer festival celebrated the opening. Around 20000 visitors joined the Mayor of Hamburg.
When the sun shines, the green colors become richer. The lush grass invites people to sit. They let their minds wander. They enjoy picnics. Some get active as the busy neighborhood life passes by. Lohsepark offers something for everyone. It stretches 600 meters long and 80 meters wide.
Families find great opportunities here. A playground fascinates climbing fans of all ages. Big swings are a highlight. Numerous fruit trees were planted here. There is also a place for skating and basketball near the Oberhafenquartier.
Discoverers can explore a constructed cave. Kids pretend to be real geologists there. Different earth layers are laid bare. These include tamped concrete, clay, grit, and turf. The layers impress everyone upon entering the cave.
Lohsepark continues Hamburg’s tradition of planting large parks amid residential areas. It follows the tradition of the Hamburger Volkspark. The park extends 550 meters. It is a 100-meter-wide green ribbon. This ribbon runs from water’s edge to water’s edge. More than 500 trees populate the extensive lawn areas. Paths crisscross the lawns. Inviting seating and play areas dot the landscape. Long park benches and movable chairs offer peace. They provide space to spend time. Terraces connect the park to the street on the long sides. These act as bastions. They mediate between the green space and the surrounding neighborhoods. The transition is barrier-free. The terraces also mediate between built structures and open space.
Lohsepark has unusual places. These are called follies. One grove contains hornbeams grown in quirky shapes. Fenced-off wilderness shows how a landscape evolves without intervention. The grotto features layering of tamped concrete. It includes shingle, peat, and even glass. This creates an unusual space for children. It complements the other play features.
The park is laid out over several levels. The open planting gives an unobstructed view. It shows the historical dock area along the Elbe.
Lohsepark is also a place of memory. The Hannoversche Bahnhof was once located here. From 1940 to 1945, at least 7692 Jews, Sinti, and Roma were deported from this station during the Holocaust. The historical sites are demarcated by a drop in level. They lie one meter below the park level. They are up to three meters below the city level.
Architectural remains recall the history. Platform 2 is a listed historical place of remembrance. It lies immediately east of the park. The seam traces the path of the historic rail tracks. It runs from Lohseplatz across the park to the platform remains.
A documentation center is being built on the park’s west side. It will house a permanent exhibition. This exhibition focuses on the fate of deported citizens from north Germany and Hamburg. It will have a direct visual connection to the historic memorial.
Lohsepark. It is more than green space. It embodies Hamburg’s collective memory. It offers a space for remembrance. It is a vibrant part of HafenCity.