The former Machine Central Station in Hamburg's Speicherstadt, known as Block M28a/M29, has been honoured as the “Building of the Year 2025” by the Architects and Engineers Association Hamburg e. V. (AIV). This award is given to outstanding structures whose quality results from a successful collaboration between architects, engineers, and clients. The historic building, which in the 19th century supplied the entire Speicherstadt with electricity and hydraulic energy, underwent a heritage-compliant refurbishment and was extended with a modern front building.
The building, whose original block was destroyed in 1943 and remained incomplete for decades, now closes an urban planning gap. HHLA Immobilien was responsible for the refurbishment of the existing structure and the addition of the modern front building. The new building integrates by adopting the characteristic brick architecture of the district, yet interprets it in a contemporary manner. This approach was challenging due to the high demands and expectations for development within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has existed since 2015. An architectural competition was held to find a suitable design, from which BIWERMAU Architekten emerged as the winner.
Concept and Implementation of the Revitalisation
Annina Mielck, an associate partner at BIWERMAU Architekten, stated that the design of the new front building is intended as a sensitive yet contemporary addition to the existing structure. The aim was to create a unified building from old and new, which makes the different temporal layers of the building visible and allows the historically shaped, special urban situation of the location to be experienced once again. On approximately 4,000 square metres, three rental units were created, each extending across the new build and the loft-like existing structure. The exposed and refurbished historic foundations in the basement form a homage to the history of the site.
The realisation of this complex undertaking was made possible by the collaboration between HHLA Immobilien, BIWERMAU Architekten, and WP Ingenieure. Ulrike Rau, Project Manager at HHLA Immobilien, described how the Machine Central Station presented various challenges that required fine-tuning during the ongoing project. She highlighted the trust within the planning team, which enabled a solution-oriented approach. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Steffens from WTM Engineers emphasised in his laudation the courage not only to refurbish the building but also to complement the lost front building, which had left an urban planning gap after the war.
The Machine Central Station serves as an example of how historical substance can be preserved and simultaneously adapted for modern uses. From spring 2026, the former machine hall will host the first German location of the restaurant “Chefs Warehouse”.
