Bildergalerie
The Masterplan
In 2007, the City of Hamburg began preliminary surveys for an urban development initiative. In 2010, there was a competition to develop an urban and landscape planning concept. The winning design by André Poitiers was developed further in 2011 to become the masterplan for Mitte Altona, approved in 2012 by the Hamburg Parliament. Further competitions and workshops followed and contributed to the creation of a liveable neighbourhood with modern architecture and inviting open spaces. Many suggestions from members of the public were incorporated. Implementation of the first construction phase began in 2015, and the neighbourhood is now an integral part of northern Altona. It comprises more than 1,600 homes and a park covering about 2.7 hectares. Participation by numerous architecture firms results in a varied cityscape. A third of the homes are affordable, publicly subsidised rental units, while a further third are privately financed rental and owner-occupied units. Among them are housing cooperative flats and ten joint building venture units. The result is a neighbourhood with a good social mix.
Once the mainline and regional train station is relocated, the second construction phase can get under way in the early 2030s. Here a further 1,900 homes and additional green spaces can be created on the adjacent railway site to the west.
The neighbourhood park
The most striking element of Mitte Altona is the generously proportioned neighbourhood park. The winner of the landscape planning competition held in 2013 between renowned landscape architects was Rotzler Krebs und Partner from Switzerland. In advance of the competition, members of the public had an opportunity to contribute suggestions that served as a basis for the competing designs. This is a place where Mitte Altona’s residents meet along with people from the surrounding neighbourhoods. The park’s central element is a large open meadow. At its edge, broad steps designed to catch the sun encourage one to sit and relax. A copse in the north-west corner of the park forms a calm, shady contrast to the lively activity in the meadow.
Pictures
Protection of historic monuments
Where crates and sacks used to be handled manually, where railwaymen sweated, cursed and enjoyed a beer after a hard day’s work, a new neighbourhood has been created. The preservation of old building structures makes a significant contribution to Mitte Altona’s identity. Protected buildings such as the old goods sheds, the clothing depot and the water tower are witnesses to the history of the neighbourhood. They have been preserved and integrated into the plans. Today the clothing depot houses the “Blaue Blume” restaurant and co-working spaces in addition to a day nursery with a 300-square-meter outdoor area. The water tower remains a landmark. Clearly visible and free-standing, it is a reminder of the eventful history of the railway in Altona.
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Inclusion and social issues
The new residents of Mitte Altona made an expansion of social infrastructure necessary. A community school and four day nurseries have been built in the neighbourhood itself.
A wide range of people from differing backgrounds can feel at home in Mitte Altona. Credit is due here to Q8, an initiative by the Alsterdorf Foundation. Since 2012, the forum “Eine Mitte für Alle” (A Mitte for everyone), chaired by Q8, has supported the inclusive development of this new part of the city. The recognition of the forum as a best practice project in the “accessible and inclusive urban development” category at the UN Habitat III Conference in Quito underlines how extensively the concerns of all people with disabilities were considered in the planning process.
Mobility
Mitte Altona has been planned as a low-car neighbourhood with accessible streets and squares that are pedestrian and cyclist friendly. This has led to lively public spaces instead of just car parking areas. A mobility concept was developed in harmony with the goals of inclusion. It encompasses a mobility station run by the neighbourhood management that includes the option to rent electric cargo bikes and cycle trailers. Two carsharing locations and two “Stadtrad” bike hire stations augment the facilities. Kerbs have been lowered as much as possible for users of wheelchairs and wheeled walkers. A further part of the inclusive concept for Mitte Altona is a guidance system for the blind and visually impaired. High-contrast and tactile guidance boundaries separate walkways from roadways or parking places, while light-coloured guidance paths aid orientation.
Information and Participation
Interaction with members of the public played an important role in the development of such an extensive project, and so the Ministry for Urban Development and Housing ran many information and participation programmes during the planning phase.
For people living today in Mitte Altona, neighbourhood management is an important point of contact. Together with residents, the neighbourhood management pursues three central goals:
- future-oriented mobility provision,
- a committed and lively neighbourhood
- and equal participation in community life for all.
More information about the neighbourhood management on their website.