Since 1 March 2008, Hamburg has been home to a new district: HafenCity, a succession of islands reclaimed from the Elbe. The destiny of this laboratory for the future of the great Hanseatic city changed in 2000, when it was decided to convert the docks of Germany's largest port into offices and flats. The idea is obviously not new, but the proportions are unique in this case, with 157 hectares of land mobilised and two million m2 to be built... In the long term, this project should enable the centre of Hamburg to "become a new city".expand by 40 %" ! These statistics mean that HafenCity can now lay claim to the title of "Europe's largest urban development project".
But the contribution of the new district is not only quantitative. HafenCity is also a model of gentle urban development. Each development project is subject to the scrutiny of a particularly stringent environmental label, so as not to tarnish the green credentials of a city that boasted the title of "European Green Capital 2011". Cars have been kept to a minimum on the roads, and every effort has been made to encourage 'green' modes of transport, with cycle paths and footpaths taking pride of place. The result: halfway through its completion, HafenCity is already a livable and enviable district. Nearly 2,000 residents have made it their home, and a large number of businesses have bet on its good fortune.
