Hamburg Central Station is the most important and largest train station in Northern Germany. More than 800 long-distance and local trains, and about 1,200 S-Bahn trains depart daily from 14 tracks. With more than 500,000 passengers a day, only Gare du Nord in Paris is frequented by more passengers in Europe. The capacity of the main station is reaching its limit due to a constant increase in passengers. A structural expansion of the transit hub is urgently needed.

The aim of the competition is to shape the fundamental further development of the main station and the surrounding urban area. For the necessary expansion of the station building, a form language that is precisely tailored to the location is to be developed, with all its challenges in terms of infrastructure and transit, urban re-development and the design of the public realm.

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A total of 30 teams was selected in an application process that preceded the two-phase competition. In a second phase, ten agencies will remain to develop a detailed concept.

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is the client of the project, in close cooperation with Deutsche Bahn (DB Station & Service AG, Berlin).

Team Karres en Brands and Gateways is joined by local civil engineers WTM Engineers, Hamburg, and spatial design strategists Space Syntax, London.

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Links

‍Karres en Brands‍Space Syntax‍WTM Engineers

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Image by Team Karres en Brands and Gateways, using Adobe Stock