Cross stage Hamburg-Altona

In recent years, the new "Mitte Altona" urban district has been created on the site of the disused freight railway station in Hamburg Altona. Two listed freight depots including a loading yard, which were refurbished and repurposed in the course of the development of the district, form the center of the new district. They now house a large retail center and shops for everyday needs.

This ensemble includes the so-called Querbühne (cross stage), a new building with around 4,300 square meters of office space, gastronomic use on the ground floor and an underground parking garage. The cross stage connects the two historic halls and forms the architectural end of the entire complex.

Through the visible construction of reinforced concrete frames as well as infill panels of beige brick and large-format glass surfaces, the cross stage, which has a transparent first floor, takes up the structural principles of the freight halls and blends in attractively with the surroundings, which are worthy of preservation and protected as a historic monument. The transitions to the school and the small plaza to the east as well as the planned district park to the west of the site are emphasized.

The entrances to the upper floors are positioned at prominent points and establish a distinct location. The upper floors allow a flexible and variable division into variably sized units. They offer space for various uses, including offices and doctor’s offices, but also "urban-production" uses.

Towards the south, facing the loading yard, the building consists of three floors. Together with the east and west halls, it creates a sheltered outdoor space that is inviting to linger, with its orientation focusing on the beautiful loading yard and adjacent halls.

Along the northern property line, the building has four floors. The north-west corner is highlighted and has six floors.