Hamburg's district office moves to Karstadt: role model for Berlin?

Hamburg's district office moves to Karstadt: role model for Berlin?

In Hamburg, a historic department store is being converted into a new location for parts of the Wandsbek district office. This step represents a pragmatic approach to making sensible use of the former Karstadt property, while many such buildings in Berlin remain empty and unused. According to development city.de, the Hamburg model could serve as a model for Berlin, especially for districts that want to modernize or merge their administrative buildings. While part of the Karstadt building on Leopoldplatz in Wedding is only used sporadically, Hamburg shows how old traffic areas can be effectively integrated into public services.

The decision to use the former department store instead of selling it or extensively converting it could represent a new way to reuse empty buildings. In particular, ISZ GmbH has signed a contract to rent around 11,400 square meters in this building. This area is expected to be occupied by around 370 employees, including the youth welfare office and a citizens' office, by 2029 at the latest. The central location at the Wandsbek Markt subway station makes it easier for citizens to reach, which should benefit the new facility.

An integrative concept for Wandsbek

The project is part of a comprehensive transformation of the district that combines living, working, services and restaurants. The historic renovation of the department store facade will be carried out together with the modernization of the rear parts of the building in order to meet the requirements of a modern administration. Everything is aimed at creating a “district office with short distances”. This means that the various district office locations are only a few hundred meters apart.

A letter of intent between the owner and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg shows the cooperation at the municipal level. Finance Senator Dr. Andreas Dressel will explain the results to the citizens' budget committee in the next few days, especially with regard to the increasing construction and financing costs, which are increasing the need for more economical alternatives. The decision to rent corresponds to the new requirements and was considered economically sensible.

Role model for other cities

The successful reuse of vacant properties in Hamburg could also be important for other cities, especially Berlin. Many empty Karstadt buildings here suffer from an uncertain future, and there is often a lack of clear strategies or the courage to find pragmatic solutions. The Hamburg approach could provide inspiration for reactivating inner-city real estate through public use and resolving space bottlenecks in public services. It remains to be hoped that the transformation initiated by Hamburg will lead to the highest efficiency in the use and promotion of urban areas.

Overall, the project in Hamburg-Wandsbek shows how long-term rental agreements and no complex renovations enable efficient and citizen-oriented administration. This not only continues the history of a former department store, but also sets an example for sustainable urban concepts that could serve as a model for other cities.

For more information read the reports Development city and Hamburg.de.