A repurposed former air raid bunker is now open to the public in Hamburg, Germany’s St. Pauli district. Following five years of construction, the bunker’s newly built rooftop garden began welcoming the public on July 5, 2024.
The extension and greening of the so-called Hamburg Bunker also includes the recently opened REVERB by Hard Rock, dining options, as well as several cultural spaces. A memorial for the victims and forced laborers of WWII is situated on the ground floor. Towering 190 feet above the city, the urban rooftop garden and “mountain path” offer 360-degree views of Germany’s second largest city.
Built in 1942 by the Nazis as an anti-aircraft bunker, the menacing concrete structure housed media companies, a music club and a classical orchestra after WWII. The rooftop transformation began in 2019, adding five floors and 65 feet to the gray building. Around 4,700 trees, along with 16,000 shrubs, bushes and plants were crane-lifted to the rooftop to transform the bunker into a 100,000-square-foot garden. The rooftop space is now open to the public and can be accessed by climbing 335 stairs or taking the 1,837-foot-long “mountain path,” which starts at the bunker’s ground level and winds up to the top alongside the building.
Visiting the bunker via the mountain path is free of charge. Public areas are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in summer. The rooftop garden can accommodate up to 900 people, with access controlled by AI-supported camera surveillance.
Occupying a significant portion of the rooftop extension, the newly opened REVERB by Hard Rock Hotel Hamburg marks the debut of the Hard Rock brand in Europe. It offers 134 rooms and suites and aims to serve not only as a hotel, but also as a cultural center, connecting artists, music fans, locals and travelers by hosting concerts and performances.
Operated by the REVERB, the “Green Bunker” also offers F&B venues on the rooftop, accessible to both hotel guests and the public: Constant Grind bakery, Karo & Paul, a three-story bar with live music, the main restaurant La Sala, and Green Beanie for quick bites in the rooftop garden.
The transformation of the Hamburg Bunker symbolizes creativity, urban culture and involvement. From the start, the project was supported by several citizen initiatives from St. Pauli and neighboring districts. These groups aimed to turn the negative associations and dark memories evoked by the ominous concrete block into an inviting green space that enhances the quality of life for the neighborhood and enriches the densely populated St. Pauli district.
For more information, visit www.hamburgbunker.com.
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