ABSTRACT
Stepping down from the warehouse district of Hamburg’s historic freeport, we looked out over the Sandtorkai Promenade. Smartly outfi tted children ran along the pontoon walkway on that sunny October day, their parents strolling among the decorative mooring cleats and huge claw anchors from long-deceased shipping vessels. Our guide explained that the buildings overhead, cantilevered out over the water, were the fi rst residential buildings constructed in the area in over 120 years. Across the water, the adjacent quarter was still being built, even though many buildings were already occupied. A short walk brought us to the heart of Dalmannkai, with its mix of offi ces, shops, and apartments. Two young boys played basketball with their father in a small urban park while older couples enjoyed afternoon coffee and cakes at upscale eateries nearby. Our large group drew polite but curious stares as we trooped up the Marco Polo Terraces, pointing into the distance at the as-yet-unimpeded views across the River Elbe. Teenagers fl ipped tricks on skateboards as young couples walked hand in hand and toddlers waited for another spoonful of dad’s ice cream. This is HafenCity Hamburg, Europe’s largest inner-city urban development project, reclaiming 157 hectares of former port lands to enlarge the city centre by 40 percent (HafenCity Hamburg 2009).
