Preserving an impressive heritage.
The interplay between the old warehouse buildings, quay walls and labyrinthine waterways is extraordinarily impressive. So it came as no surprise in 2015 when the Speicherstadt was declared as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city of Hamburg. The Speicherstadt (English: warehouse district) was once a part of the free port and an important trans-shipment place for goods and commodities. Today it is one of the most frequented tourist destinations in Hamburg.
The quay walls consist of brickwork, dams and timber pile foundations. For some 130 years, time has taken its toll of the historic quay walls. They have suffered deformations towards the water and depressions in the roadway. Now the quay walls at Brook and at the former customs house will be remediated with due regard to the adjacent buildings and the stringent requirements for conservation of historical monuments.
At Brook they will be supplemented by an anchored steel sheet pile wall on the water side. A reinforced concrete wall will be bedded onto the sheet pile wall and faced with brick to harmonise with the existing surroundings. At the former customs house, an anchored steel sheet pile wall will be installed behind the existing construction, strengthened with piles and a reinforced concrete angled retaining wall. This will be faced with brick in order to preserve the area’s historic appearance.
Thus the quay walls will continue in future to make their contribution to the unique overall impression of the Speicherstadt.
© Piet Niemann, BIN, Piet Niemann, Piet Niemann, BIN, Piet Niemann, Piet Niemann, BIN, BIN / Piet Niemann
