HHLA hands over expansion area to Miniatur Wunderland

The Hamburg Port and Logistics AG (HHLA) has today handed over approximately 3,700 square meters of additional rental space in the Hamburg Speicherstadt to the model railway enthusiasts of Miniatur Wunderland on schedule. This clears the way for the expansion of the most popular tourist attraction in the Hanseatic city.

(Hamburg) Over the past 15 months, HHLA Immobilien has extensively renovated Warehouse L between Am Sandtorkai street and the Kehrwiederfleet. The over 130-year-old brick building is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hamburg Speicherstadt. The historic warehouse complex has been gradually renovated by HHLA for more than 20 years.

In building section L33, Miniatur Wunderland takes over nearly 3,700 square meters of space. The five warehouse floors will be handed over to the new tenant as an extended shell, with further interior construction to be carried out by Miniatur Wunderland. According to their own statements, the plan is to recreate the South American continent in miniature format.

Restoration of historical elements

In addition to preparing the space and the extensive renewal of the building technology, HHLA has placed particular emphasis on the preservation and restoration of historical elements. This includes, for example, the characteristic wooden hatches and steel windows. Furthermore, HHLA has expanded the staircase and created a new elevator and a separate additional escape route to accommodate the expected number of visitors. All measures were taken in close coordination with the monument protection office.

Part of the additional rental space is a new pedestrian bridge. It creates a direct and weather-independent connection between the existing exhibition areas of Miniatur Wunderland in Warehouse D and the expansion area on the opposite fleet side in Warehouse L. The spectacular fully glazed connecting element was installed over the Kehrwiederfleet in July of last year. In the future, not only Miniatur Wunderland visitors will use the 25-meter-long bridge, but the longest model railway track in the world is also planned to run over it.

Scheduled handover despite Corona

“I am very pleased that we can hand over the additional areas and the pedestrian bridge to Miniatur Wunderland on schedule and on time despite the challenges posed by the pandemic,” says Rainer Schluff, technical managing director at HHLA Immobilien. Together with the planners and architects of Miniatur Wunderland, they have worked intensively on this very demanding project, thus creating the conditions for the further development of one of the most popular attractions in Hamburg. “I wish the model railway enthusiasts much success in the further expansion and am very excited about the new miniature worlds in the Speicherstadt.”

Photo: © Miniatur Wunderland