Hamburg used to have a truly massive number of tightly packed 15-18th century storehouses with a unique architecture and history. Individual warehouses (Speicher) were established by both large trade companies and small individual merchants. Often merchant families or workers lived in the same warehouses that stored their wares, in upper story rooms and cabins. This area had a very high population of Dutch and Flemish people, probably the highest in whole Germany.
After Great Fire of Hamburg destroyed a good third of all Old Town buildings, city administration decided that it was time to depopulate and redevelop the area to adjust it for the port expansion and modernization, though this was very unpopular and controversial among the residents of Hamburg. The densest districts situated on two islands – Kehrwieder and Wandrahm were completely demolished, more than 20,000 people living there evicted (though many received new housing in the newly built areas such as Eilbek (later annihilated in the aftermath of British Operation Gomorrha, killing more than 34,000 residents). Nevertheless the area was built over with what is now UNESCO World Heritage site, a unique 19th century system of warehouses known as Speicherstadt
Hamburg was also a member of the Hanseatic League (~14th-19th C.) a major trading power in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Since the league was rooted in the guild system this kind of mixed residential/commercial building made a lot of sense. The Hanseatic League is also (apocryphally) responsible for the "Pound Sterling," sterling being a contraction of "easterling" meaning the Hansa, who were famed for the reliability of their currency.
Lifeboatbsays
I was there some years ago and saw a fireworks display over some of the canals/warehouses. I never did figure out what was being celebrated, but it was a wonderful sight.
Strydwolf says
Hamburg used to have a truly massive number of tightly packed 15-18th century storehouses with a unique architecture and history. Individual warehouses (Speicher) were established by both large trade companies and small individual merchants. Often merchant families or workers lived in the same warehouses that stored their wares, in upper story rooms and cabins. This area had a very high population of Dutch and Flemish people, probably the highest in whole Germany.
After Great Fire of Hamburg destroyed a good third of all Old Town buildings, city administration decided that it was time to depopulate and redevelop the area to adjust it for the port expansion and modernization, though this was very unpopular and controversial among the residents of Hamburg. The densest districts situated on two islands – Kehrwieder and Wandrahm were completely demolished, more than 20,000 people living there evicted (though many received new housing in the newly built areas such as Eilbek (later annihilated in the aftermath of British Operation Gomorrha, killing more than 34,000 residents). Nevertheless the area was built over with what is now UNESCO World Heritage site, a unique 19th century system of warehouses known as Speicherstadt
Today’s view, with Speicherstadt in its place
Old view from the other side of the warehouse island
Another, extremely picturesque view of Holländischer Brook. This area used to be absolutely bustling with business and life
A picture of the steep stairs leading from the lower commercial storeys to the upper living rooms
Gothic Revival warehouses of Speicherstadt – what came to replace them
Much of the Old Town near the port still retained their vintage look up until Second World War
Another view, Speicherstadt to the left, old warehouses to the right
And to sum up, the view over Old Town of Hamburg before the Second World War
Nikolaifleet, a small shard that survived both Great Fire, demolitions and WW2 bombings. This is how much of Hamburg looked like around the year 1800
Anacoenosis says
Hamburg was also a member of the Hanseatic League (~14th-19th C.) a major trading power in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Since the league was rooted in the guild system this kind of mixed residential/commercial building made a lot of sense. The Hanseatic League is also (apocryphally) responsible for the "Pound Sterling," sterling being a contraction of "easterling" meaning the Hansa, who were famed for the reliability of their currency.
Lifeboatb says
I was there some years ago and saw a fireworks display over some of the canals/warehouses. I never did figure out what was being celebrated, but it was a wonderful sight.