Motel One Kontorhaus

On the tracks of Hamburg

After 8 months, the archaeological investigations on the construction site of the Motel One Hamburg Kontorhaus project were completed at the end of April.

The expectations of the Archaeological Museum Hamburg to find here on the former Reichenstraßeninsel remains of the first settlements from the time of the city expansion in the 12th century have been fulfilled.
Thus, on the basis of old foundation walls, wooden foundation piles as well as the wooden meshes common in the Middle Ages, the house and plot structures from the periods overlapping here have been reconstructed.

In addition, especially through the discovery of a latrine, everyday objects such as coins but also a small iron tap with a decoration in the form of a chick, could be brought to light.

Between the harbor and the city center, in Hamburg’s historic Kontorhaus district, a new Motel One brand hotel is being built with approximately 460 rooms. The building extends over a total of 3 underground and 10 above-ground floors, whereby the upper 5 floors are staggered back in accordance with the connecting heights of the surroundings. A skybar for public use is planned for the top floor.

The new building designed by Gössler, Kinz, Kerber, Kreienbaum Architekten has a classical brick façade in keeping with the characteristics of the surrounding buildings, which are characterized by traditional Hamburg brick architecture. The façade is further structured vertically by means of different types of reveal elements in sections, which take up the prevailing plot structure in the neighboring development.

The construction site is located in the area of the Reichenstraßeninsel, which was settled around the year 1200 in the course of the city expansion. In the course of the construction of the excavation pit, an archaeological investigation of the construction field will therefore be carried out by the Helms Museum Hamburg. The subsequent construction work is scheduled to start around the end of 2019.