DESA Immobilien Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG has started construction work on the “Altonaer Höfe” craft and commercial yard at Diebsteich in Hamburg-Altona. The building permit for the project was granted in 2025. On the approximately 3,000 square metre site at Am Diebsteich 13, a six-storey new building with underground parking and around 12,300 square metres of gross floor area is being built. Of this, around 9,600 square metres are intended for commercial use, including office space.
The client is DESA Immobilien Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. The project is aimed in particular at innovative commercial enterprises from the skilled trades, urban production, green tech, creative industries as well as development and innovation who are looking for modern and flexible space in a central, well-connected location. The plan is to create a high-quality, flexibly usable urban commercial complex for companies of different sizes, from specialised craft businesses to technology-oriented start-ups and innovative medium-sized companies. Hamburg Invest has been supporting the project since the search for land, providing intensive support for the development and now also for marketing.
The “Altonaer Höfe” is another example of stacked commercial space in inner-city locations. The approach is gaining in importance in Hamburg because classic commercial space is scarce in central city districts, but at the same time local craft and commercial enterprises are needed for functioning districts. The multi-storey construction method allows additional commercial space to be created on a comparatively compact plot. The aim is a diverse mix of uses of companies that complement each other in a meaningful way and together form a lively business location.
“We deliberately see the Altonaer Höfe not exclusively as a classic commercial park, but as a place where working, developing and producing in the city are rethought. Here, areas are being created that bring together craftsmanship, urban production and innovation under one roof – integrated into a dynamic urban environment at the new Diebsteich long-distance railway station. In doing so, we attach particular importance to compatible and high-quality use, in which working, developing and producing can be easily combined in an urban environment,” says Karsten Saft, Managing Partner of DESA Immobilienverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.
As a construction and project development partner, DEPENBROCK brings experience in the implementation of demanding commercial projects. The location at Diebsteich is located in a dynamic environment, which is becoming even more important due to the development of the new long-distance and regional railway station as well as the urban development in the west of Hamburg.
“Stacked commercial yards are structurally and organizationally more demanding than classic hall buildings with large open spaces. At the same time, they are an important building block for keeping businesses in the city. As a medium-sized family business, we know how important functional, resilient and easily accessible areas are for companies. We are pleased to be working with DESA to implement a project at this special location that pays off precisely in this respect,” says Erik Depenbrock, Managing Partner of Depenbrock Spezialtiefbau GmbH & Co. KG.
Hamburg Invest sees the project as a current example of how additional commercial space can also be created in densely populated and high-demand urban areas. The city’s economic development department accompanies companies, investors and project developers in their search for suitable locations and supports them in the development of viable usage concepts.
“The Altonaer Höfe show how Hamburg understands land development in a growing city: Trade, crafts and production continue to need space, especially in well-connected inner-city locations. Projects like this create additional space, maintain economic functions in the district and at the same time show that stacked commercial yards can also be a viable model for private investors,” says Dr. Rolf Strittmatter, Managing Director of Hamburg Invest.
Hamburg Invest at the Real Estate Arena in Hanover
Hamburg Invest will be represented with its own stand at the Real Estate Arena in Hanover on 10 and 11 June (Hall 4, Stand H26). The focus is on the question of how Hamburg creates additional commercial space in sought-after locations and develops locations where companies, innovation and industrial value creation come together. In addition to the “Altonaer Höfe”, other inner-city areas will also be presented, such as in Gasstraße in Altona, as well as development sites such as the Altona and Bergedorf innovation parks.
