10 Years After Occupation - "Hasi" to Be Renovated: HWG Has Filed Building Permit, Work to Begin This Summer
A long-awaited renovation is coming to Hafenstraße 7, a building occupied for a decade. HWG has now submitted plans to transform the site, with construction set to start in mid-2026. The project will balance commercial use with environmental upgrades, including renewable energy and water management.
The decision to renovate follows years of evaluation. HWG explored options like selling or redeveloping the property but rejected them after a 2023 call for proposals failed to meet requirements. Instead, the organisation chose to refurbish the site itself.
The 1,600-square-metre section along Hafenstraße will be updated, while the remaining 8,000 square metres will stay as a protected biotope. Inside, 400 square metres of space will become commercial units for one or more businesses. Outside, parking for 16 vehicles—including two with charging points—will use permeable materials to reduce runoff.
Sustainability features heavily in the design. A photovoltaic system on the roof will power an air-source heat pump for heating. Rainwater collection will supply irrigation, and outdoor surfaces will be kept minimally sealed to create a ‘sponge effect’ for drainage. Construction is expected to run from June 2026 to mid-2027.
No architect or planning firm has been publicly named for the project. Searches for related work in Hamburg point to other developments, such as BARKOW LEIBINGER’s office building in Harburger Binnenhafenquartier or INGENIEURBÜRO DR. BINNEWIES’ structural projects, but these are unrelated to Hafenstraße 7.
The renovation marks the end of a long planning phase for Hafenstraße 7. Once complete, the building will combine commercial use with eco-friendly infrastructure. The city administration is now reviewing HWG’s submitted application before work can begin.
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