Here 6,000 apartments and 16,000 jobs are to be created and, with its strategic location, Werkstadt Grasbrook will be the link in the long-planned leap across the Elbe, where Hamburg is seizing the unique opportunity to grow in centrally located areas in the middle of the city. On a large scale, the development will link the city centre with the south of Hamburg, but the development of Grasbrook also has a special significance as a landscape axis on the northern Elbe.
The city’s main objective is to develop Grasbrook as a Productive District following a new city ideal, in which working and living are mixed together after decades of separation of functions. The Productive District is innovative, like a living lab placing renewed attention on the manufacturing economy – stimulated by the transition to a circular economy and the rise of smart technology. The Productive District is inclusive with a wide range of short distance jobs, for people both higher- and lower-educated. There are plenty of examples of smart, clean production processes and ways to fit them into the city. By involving the neighborhood in these processes, you foster understanding and perhaps pride among the local residents: this is where things are made. Entrepeneurs have assignments in varying sizes or they grow over time and should be involved with ideas and initiatives to experiment and stimulate innovation.

Going into more detail, the Grasbrook Maker starts with a modular grid based on the existing heritage of the site. The framework consists of the main spine from which smaller streets on both sides can grow organically, like a tree structure, towards the waterfront. For logistical reasons, the main spine would attract larger-grain urban production elements while the waterfront, attracting housing and recreation, creates an attractive layered skyline offering maximum views to the water. The mobility centre, located on the crossing of the Metro stop and the bridge over the ringroad and railtrack, functions as a neighbourhood centre, attracting taller buildings, density, and a mix of programmes. The ringroad and railtrack attracts large offices which receive good views while blocking traffic noise. The atmosphere of Gras ‘Brook’, meaning Bruchwald, will be maintained with the tidal park, offering a changing landscape and emphasizing the green corridor of Hamburg.
Though we will not pursue the Grasbrook project further, we will use our research into the Grasbrook Maker – an interactive, democratic, and data driven platform – as a promising and forward-looking basis for further urban planning projects as it allows us to transfer high flexibility and adaptability to other places with different conditions and problems.