Press release 26.02.2024

Hamburg, February 8, 2024

On an area of around 55 hectares in the west of Hamburg, well integrated into the existing urban structures, a new neighborhood with a diverse range of housing, social and educational infrastructure, university facilities and green open spaces for the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld. Since October 2023, six planning teams have been developing their ideas for the urban and open space design as well as the distribution of uses. On February 5, the selection committee chose the three teams Cobe A/S, Copenhagen (DK), Karres en Brands Bv., Hilversum (NL) & ADEPT, Copenhagen (DK) and Mandaworks AB, Stockholm (SE) & LOLA Landscape Architects B.V., Rotterdam (NL) for further processing as part of the competitive dialog "Quarters at Volkspark". The successful interim results will be on public display from February 15-18.

Reiner Nagel, Chairman of the Board of the Federal Foundation of Baukultur (jury chairman): "We have the six top-class Europe-wide teams to thank for an exciting selection process, during which not only the planners became smarter. The selection committee, which consisted of awarding authorities, politicians, committee representatives, experts and residents in an accompanying role, was also able to further scrutinize and concretize the brief. The three teams that have now been selected for the in-depth phase have received broad approval, but have also taken away many tips for revision on the way to the best solution for Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld and its districts."

Franz Josef Höing, Chief Planning Director: "A first step has been taken in the Science City process in Bahrenfeld: three exciting competition entries have been selected for the second phase. In very different ways, they each promise more city in the city, interesting residential areas, squares, new open spaces and show how science can create new interesting and attractive places."

Dr. Stefanie von Berg, Head of District Office at Altona: "With Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld , a highly modern and lively district will be created in the coming decades. Thanks to the competition, we are now getting more and more of an impression of what this district could look like in the future. I am therefore very pleased that the successful interim results of the remaining three planning teams are now publicly available for all citizens to see and that interested parties can continue to contribute ideas and suggestions to the competition process."

Dr. Andreas Kleinau, Chairman of the Management Board of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld GmbH: "Even though the final designs are not yet available, the halfway point marks an important moment for the competitive dialogue "Quartiere am Volkspark". As part of the public exhibition from 15-18 February 2024 at Science City Infocenter , all interested parties can get an impression of the planning teams' ideas and provide comments. The process is scheduled for completion in summer 2024."

Dr. Rolf Greve, Office for Science and Research: "At Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld , science and urban development inspire each other. After all, ideas for the life of tomorrow emerge from an open exchange that takes all aspects of a modern city into account. This is also what the competitive dialog for the districts at Volkspark stands for and I am delighted that it is now entering the next round of the process. With the interim results, we have taken an important step towards making the future-oriented project Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld , which is unique in Europe, a reality bit by bit. The designs have already made it possible to move through the future Science City, surrounded by excellent science, vibrant social life, sustainable living and social amenities, all in good proximity to the green Volkspark and cleverly connected by footpaths, cycle paths, roads, trains and buses. A piece of modern Hamburg has thus already been brought to life."