Köhlbrand staircase

The ‘Köhlbrandtreppe 2-4’ site has been home to the Johs. Thode shipping company for almost 125 years. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the listed Köhlbrandtreppe, which once served as a central link between the residential neighbourhoods of the upper town and the ferry terminal on the banks of the Elbe.

In place of the existing building, which had been extended several times, a new building was designed by LH Architekten, which takes up the qualities of the location – view of the Elbe, hillside location, flood protection and proximity to the monument – in its design.

The building is divided horizontally into different usage zones: an underground car park in the basement, four floors with modern flats and two office floors for the long-established shipping company Johs. The new building was completed in the fourth quarter of 2016 and combines Hanseatic identity with contemporary, sustainable architecture.

Thanks to its urban integration and clear design language, the building blends naturally into the established surroundings. At the same time, it sets a striking, contemporary accent at one of the most historically significant locations in the Port of Hamburg.