Kontorhaus District

The Kontorhaus District lies in Hamburg-Mitte, just south-east of the old town centre. Its streets are lined with large office buildings in Brick Expressionism style from the early 20th century. The area forms part of the Altstadt and is bounded by Steinstraße, Meßberg, Klosterwall and Brandstwiete. In July 2015 UNESCO named the Kontorhaus District and the adjacent Speicherstadt a World Heritage Site. The quarter replaced a dense 17th-century warren of alleys called the Gängeviertel. After the great fire of 1842 and a cholera outbreak in 1892, city planner Fritz Schumacher was put in charge of redevelopment. He created a new layout with wide streets and large office blocks to meet the needs of Hamburg’s growing merchant class. The centre of his plan is Burchardplatz, a public square surrounded by these buildings. Visitors walk past striking facades of clinker brick and copper roofs. The Chilehaus, designed by Fritz Höger for shipowner Henry B. Sloman, is the quarter’s best-known landmark. Sculptures by Richard Kuöhl depict Hamburg’s trade and crafts. Inside the courtyards of buildings like the Sprinkenhof, light falls through set-back upper floors. Decorative Art Deco details appear on the Montanhof, while the Bartholomayhaus recalls old Hanseatic gables. The quarter’s scale and style offer a clear picture of early 20th-century Hamburg commerce.