The towering, concrete monolith of the St. Pauli bunker, standing at 58 meters, has been a stark reminder of Hamburg’s wartime history for over 80 years. Originally constructed under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime as a flak tower, one of eight such anti-aircraft bunkers in Germany, it served a dual purpose as an air raid shelter during World War II. The bunker, built using forced labor, represents one of the darkest chapters in Germany’s history. Yet, this grim relic has undergone a stunning metamorphosis into a beacon of contemporary urban life.
Located in Hamburg’s trendy Karoviertel neighborhood, the bunker’s conversion into a modern hotel and leisure complex exemplifies how the city has embraced its historical past while looking forward to the future. The five-story REVERB by Hard Rock hotel now occupies much of the bunker’s interior, offering 134 rooms equipped with the latest in smart technology, including Alexa in-room assistants and 55-inch flat-screen TVs. The sleek, industrial design of the hotel’s interiors blends seamlessly with the building’s rugged history, creating a unique atmosphere that attracts both tourists and locals.
The amenities within the bunker extend far beyond the confines of the hotel. On the ground floor, visitors can enjoy a coffee at the Constant Grind café or shop for memorabilia at the Rock Shop. The culinary offerings are elevated by the presence of Karo & Paul, a bar-restaurant helmed by German television chef Frank Rosin. Although the restaurant’s dining area is yet to open, the bar has quickly become a popular spot within the community. The bunker’s fifth floor is home to La Sala, a restaurant that offers international cuisine alongside breathtaking views of the Hamburg skyline.
Perhaps the most striking addition to the bunker is the newly constructed rooftop garden, the Green Beanie. Designed in a pyramid-like structure, the garden is a verdant oasis in the heart of the city, its lush greenery cascading down the sides of the bunker’s formidable concrete walls. Inspired by New York’s High Line, the five-level garden features a public bar and a walkway that loops around the entire building, offering visitors panoramic views of the city below. Open to the public for free, the Green Beanie serves as a peaceful retreat from the urban hustle, a stark contrast to the bunker’s original, martial purpose.
Transforming such a colossal structure posed significant challenges. The bunker, with its 76,000 metric tons of concrete and 2.5-meter-thick walls, was too massive to demolish without posing risks to the densely populated area surrounding it. The decision to repurpose rather than destroy the bunker was driven by both practical and symbolic considerations. According to Anita Engels, a representative of the Hilldegarden neighborhood association, the addition of greenery to the bunker was intended to symbolize peace and regeneration, offering a hopeful counterpoint to the bunker’s somber origins.
The Hilldegarden association played a crucial role in the project, not only by advocating for the bunker’s preservation but also by curating an exhibition that details the structure’s history. This exhibition, located on the bunker’s first floor, features testimonies from individuals who lived through the war and worked as forced laborers on the bunker’s construction. By preserving these stories, the exhibition ensures that the bunker’s history is not forgotten, even as the building itself is repurposed for a new, peaceful purpose.
The St. Pauli bunker’s transformation from a Nazi wartime fortress into a vibrant urban space is a powerful example of how cities can confront and repurpose their historical legacies. What was once a symbol of oppression now stands as a testament to renewal and the enduring spirit of the Hamburg community.
