The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has approved Hamburg’s application for the “Speicherstadt and Chilehaus with Kontorhaus District” to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The committee, which comprises 21 UNESCO member states, acknowledged the outstanding universal value of Hamburg’s urban, maritime warehouse complex and office district dating back to the early 20th century.
The World Heritage Committee based its decision on the belief that the Speicherstadt and the Kontorhaus District are “an outstanding example” of buildings and ensembles which “illustrate significant stages in human history.” The two complementing mono-functional areas include the historic Speicherstadt warehouse district, defined by a connecting network of roads, canals and bridges dating from 1885 to 1927, and the modern red-brick architecture of the Kontorhaus office building ensembles from the 1920s to 1940s.
The Speicherstadt (which translates into “warehouse city”) is the world’s largest continuous warehouse complex. It extends over 64 acres in the heart of Hamburg’s port, and comprises 17 building complexes.
Speicherstadt is one of Hamburg’s major – and most photographed – tourism highlights and a main attraction of the historic barge cruises. Museums at the site include the Hamburg Dungeon, the Speicherstadt museum and the Miniatur Wunderland. Urban development of nearby HafenCity has also been drawing advertising agencies, entertainment, fashion showrooms and restaurants to the Speicherstadt area.