The Ballin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin - Hapag

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allin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin House • The Balli
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The Ballin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin House • Th
allin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin House • The Ballin
7 Deichstrasse
19–20 Dovenfleet
T
he world is my oyster –
trading fleets of other countries.
for more than 100 years,
Hapag’s only competitor for the
this motto of pride and commit-
position of largest, most import-
ment has adorned Ballin House,
ant shipping company in the
which
Hamburg’s
world was Norddeutscher Lloyd
Inner Alster Lake at 25 Ballin-
(North German Lloyd), whose
damm. Around the turn of the
home was also a Hanseatic city,
century, Albert Ballin (1857–
namely Bremen. The role played
1918),
of
by both companies was not just
Hapag, adopted this traditional
economic but also political at all
motto used by Hanseatic mer-
times, as they had developed a
chants as the slogan for the
large share of international trade
Hamburg shipping company.
routes. In 1970, the two rivals
Hapag at that time was “on top”,
merged to become one shipping
at the height of its success. It
company called Hapag-Lloyd
provided liner services to every
AG.
continent in the world except for
The success story began back in
Africa and Australia and its ship
1847 with the establishment of
tonnage exceeded the entire
the
overlooks
Director-General
Hamburg-Amerikanische
3
Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft
Hapag became a leading global
(Hamburg America Line), the
shipping company up until the
Hamburg parent of this Group.
time of the First World War. At
Initially, the company primarily
the end of the 1880s, the com-
transported emigrants to the
pany had the first express steam-
USA. Its first headquarters at
ers built, placing it at the
7 Deichstrasse were moved in
forefront of North Atlantic trade.
1890 to a magnificent Renais-
At this stage, the company’s
sance
headquarters also began to
building
located
at
19–20 Dovenfleet.
S
constructed in the
Renaissance style popular
at the time was
occupied in 1903
expand rapidly. In 1897, the year
of its 50th anniversary, 137 employees worked there. Its offices
hortly before this, the
on Dovenfleet had become too
young
man
small, and so the decision was
Albert Ballin had joined Hapag
made at the turn of the century
as head of its passage depart-
to purchase a row of properties
ment. After just a few years, he
overlooking the Inner Alster Lake,
became the company’s Director-
on Alsterdamm (today called
General. Under his stewardship,
Ballindamm).
4
The office building
Hamburg
5
The virtually unchanged
Ferdinandstrasse entrance
Ernst Barlach created
the statue of Neptune
with steeds galloping
over the waves
Alsterdamm had been con-
still be seen around the Alster
This “early Barlach” can no
structed in 1842 from the debris
Lake today, such as the Ameri-
longer be seen today. The
of the Great Fire of Hamburg.
can Consulate General. His best-
figures were melted down in the
The street “Brandsende” (“Fire’s
known work is the Hamburg
First World War because of their
End”), incidentally, is just off
Town Hall.
high material value.
Ballindamm, not far from Ballin
Haller also constructed Hapag’s
Hapag’s new headquarters were
House. This is the spot where
offices in the Renaissance style
very generously designed inside
the blaze, which had started over
popular at the time. The three-
and also served as a check-in
on Deichstrasse close to the
storey building was ready for
area for passengers.
port, was finally brought under
occupancy in 1903. It was
control.
topped by a seven-metre-high
Martin Haller, who had previously
bronze statue of Neptune with a
designed the tower-crowned
trident and steeds galloping
building on Dovenfleet, was
over the waves – the work of
again commissioned to con-
a 33-year-old, as-yet-unknown
struct a new administrative build-
artist from Holstein. His name
ing. He was Hamburg’s most
was Ernst Barlach and he worked
renowned architect at the time
together with the sculptor Karl
and some of his typical villas can
Garbers in a studio in Wedel.
6
7
Four statues flanked the
Many of the original
building’s stylistic elements
preserved in almost true-to-
have been preserved
original form at 58 Ferdinand-
entrance on Alsterdamm
strasse. Here, the entrance and
façade can be seen without any
major alterations. They carry the
emblems of various countries
whose ports Hapag called at.
However, the large Hapag emFirst-class passengers were re-
about extensively in Hamburg’s
blem above the garage entrance
ceived in the entrance hall on
newspapers at that time. Appar-
was added later. It originally
Alsterdamm, where they booked
ently, readers were particularly
adorned the company’s chil-
perhaps the general level of
links with. Enthusiasm about
Hamburg local and a visitor
their passages. The other pas-
interested in where “Director
dren’s home in the town of Wyk
excitement resulted in a little too
them was limited.
about the colossal figures. It
sengers accessed the building
Ballin’s” office would now be.
auf Föhr.
much of a good thing. Four
For instance, the director of the
quickly spread through the stock
through the entrance on Ferdi-
The
Corres-
The Kontorhaus was a huge,
powerful, elaborate sandstone
Kunsthalle art museum, Alfred
exchange and further afield:
nandstrasse.
pondent revealed the details:
magnificent office building, con-
statues – works of the sculptors
Lichtwark, who was already
“Tell me, what do these four
The relocation of the world’s
“First floor, on the right, with an
structed in line with the prevailing
Börner and Cauer – flanked the
suspected in conservative circles
figures actually represent?”
largest shipping company from
antechamber, of course!” Part of
tastes. It was ornately decorated,
entrance. They were supposed
of being a radical moderniser, is
“The five senses.”
the Kontorhaus office district to
this building, which caused such
particularly on the main façade
to symbolise the four continents
said to have come up with the
“Five? But there are only four!”
the Inner Alster Lake was written
a sensation at the time, has been
facing the Alster Lake. But
that the shipping company had
alleged conversation between a
“Exactly. Taste is missing …”
8
Hamburgischer
9
T
he widespread, sharp
criticism did not go un-
The original and new
heeded. When the building had
buildings were covered
once again become too small,
with a single façade
the contract did not go to a his-
shortly afterwards
toricising traditionalist, but rather
to a modern architect influenced
by expressionism – Fritz Höger
(1877–1949). The Holstein nativ,
together with Fritz Schumacher,
was the “father” of a new Ham-
architect who revived an old art
haus, was constructed in the
two parts into a single unit. Fritz
Hamburg’s
Hanseatic
sion and only capable of finding
burg architecture that to some
form.
1920s.
Höger jotted down his initial
tradition, of which he saw Hapag
its visible expression in exagger-
extent still defines the image of
This earned him the affectionate
For the Hapag building, Höger
thoughts:
as the most important modern
ated monumentality and loud-
the city today. Instead of plaster,
nickname “clinker knitter”. One of
now had to work without his
“1. It is to be the administrative
representative, but also ensure
ness. It seems to me, therefore,
which was modern at the time,
his first major works was the
favourite material. The use of
building of the largest shipping
that the architecture would not
that the only solution lies in
they used a traditional material
Klöpperhaus (1912/1913), which
light-coloured sandstone was a
company in the world.
display excessive pomp, hark
giving Hamburg’s highest power
from the region – red brick.
today houses the Galeria Kauf-
strict condition here. It had been
2. It is situated in Hamburg. For
back too much to bygone eras or
the largest and most authentic
Höger in particular is regarded
hof department store on Mönck-
decided to organically incorp-
me, these two facts are not unre-
have voguish adornments: “It is
Hamburg-style building as its
as the reformer of northern Ger-
ebergstrasse. His best-known
orate
lated.”
not some sudden creation, re-
residence. A building that is more
man brick construction, as the
clinker brick building, the Chile-
double its size and combine the
Höger wanted to do justice to
sulting from chance and occa-
than
10
the
existing
building,
great
a
symbol,
clear
and
11
The rear of the building
on Ferdinandstrasse
unadorned with emblems, that
not familiar with the inside of the
It was a completely different
Prior to the war and even during
should not be a symbolist riddle
building has difficulties even
style, a new stamp on Ham-
the catastrophe itself he warned
but rather proclaim greatness.”
today finding their way around
burg’s gem, the Inner Alster
and urged behind the scenes –
Höger increased the number of
and may wonder about the
Lake. Construction began in
but to no avail. Albert Ballin did
storeys in the existing building to
seemingly unplanned corridors,
1913. When the building was
not want to witness the end of
four. The new wing was built to
stairs, corners or odd passage-
occupied in May 1921, the world
his era. Having seen his country
the same height but had an extra
ways, the visible effects of the
was a different place and times
and “his” Hapag senselessly
floor inside, which was done by
compromises. They were, how-
had changed radically.
destroyed, he committed sui-
making the rooms slightly lower.
ever, hidden by the façade.
This was due to the First World
cide. That was on 9 November
Both parts of the building were
The end result was a uniform
War from 1914 to 1918, which
1918, a few days before the end
then combined with a single
building complex between Al-
halted construction for years.
of the war. The Republic was
façade. This was placed over the
sterdamm and Ferdinandstrasse
“The most foolish and bloody of
then declared in Berlin. Hapag
existing building, which could
on the one hand and Gertruden-
all wars,” as Hapag chief, Albert
and Norddeutscher Lloyd lost
therefore no longer be seen but
strasse and Alstertor on the
Ballin, proclaimed from the be-
the remainder of their fleets
was still preserved on the inside.
other. Plain and simple, it stood
ginning. For years, he pressed
under the Treaty of Versailles and
What sounds so easy was in fact
there in light-coloured Obern-
hard for a settlement between
only managed to stay afloat with
both a technical and an artistic
kirchen sandstone, functional yet
Germany and Britain, discreetly
difficulty. A German shipping
masterpiece that still involved
elegant, and represented by its
attempting again and again to
company appeared to no longer
compromises. Anyone who is
material and proportions alone.
broker a deal.
have a future.
12
13
Alsterdamm at the end of
the Second World War
he fact that Hapag still
T
the top of international shipping.
period as a Jew, gave Alster-
had its building com-
In 1929, just ten years after the
damm its new name – Ballin-
pleted as quickly as possible
Hamburg shipping company had
damm. Hapag-Lloyd honoured
was a clear sign. It was the first
lost its ships, it once again em-
its
new building of this level of im-
ployed a staff of 18,000 on land
posthumously to mark its 150th
portance to be finished in post-
and at sea. However, the “Gold-
anniversary in 1997. Since then,
war Hamburg. The resumption of
en 20s” – the short respite after
the building has been called
construction work seemed like a
the war – were soon over and
Ballin
sign of the almost defiant will to
followed by a recession and yet
deutscher Lloyd’s headquarters
survive. With its simple yet noble
another war. History repeated
on Papenstrasse in Bremen,
functionality, the Höger building
itself on Alsterdamm. At the end
which were completely des-
fitted perfectly into a world that
of the Second World War, Hapag
troyed by bombing and not
had become more sober. Des-
was again left empty-handed.
rebuilt, the Höger building es-
pite all the pessimistic predic-
For a second time, Alsterdamm
caped the Second World War
tions, it was soon full of life again.
was built using the rubble of the
largely unscathed. Only the
In the Weimar Republic, Hapag,
burnt-out city. In 1947, it was re-
fourth floor of the Hamburg
like Norddeutscher Lloyd, man-
named. Albert Ballin, considered
building fell victim to fire and the
aged to push its way back up to
a non-person during the Nazi
façade was damaged.
14
greatest
House.
Director-General
Unlike
Nord-
15
The Ballin Hall
The Ballin Hall basks in
renewed splendour
following its renovation
A
fifth storey
largest ship in the world
steamer from Hamburg was a
was added
at the time, at a length
floating status symbol of the
reconstruc-
of 277 metres and a
aspiring German Empire. The
tion. The entrance
size
than
black, white and red German
hall
52,000 GRT. As such, it
flag at that time can be seen on
damage, temporarily housed
was the equivalent of a modern
the stern of the model and the
various departments in the post-
container ship. The steamer was
Hapag flag on the main mast.
war period, and today once
christened in person by no less a
Today, Hapag-Lloyd ships fly
While the “Imperator” appears to
service at the end of 2001, is
deck and 16 layers on top of one
again serves as a reception and
figure than His Majesty, German
their blue-and-orange company
be “entering port” in the hall, the
320 metres long, 43 metres wide
another, seven of which are on
representation area. Containing
Emperor William II, who gave it
flag on the signal mast above the
“Hamburg Express” (today called
and has a deadweight capacity
deck. In total, the ship can trans-
a bronze bust of Albert Ballin, it is
the name “Imperator”, or Em-
bridge.
the “Dalian Express”) opposite is
of 100,000 tonnes. It can ac-
port 7,500 standard containers.
now called the “Ballin Hall”, in
peror. It was the only “male” ship,
The “Imperator” became British
“leaving port”. The container
commodate
memory of the Hapag Director
referred to as “he” rather than
property after the First World
freighter, which was put into
17 containers side-by-side on
and the history of the company.
“she”. The “Emperor of the
War and travelled for Cunard
As a testament to the Ballin era,
Ocean” was a floating city with
Line as the “Berengaria” up until
there is a model of the steamer
room for 4,500 passengers and
1938.
“Imperator” on display beside
a crew of 1,180. With an impos-
the entrance. Built in Hamburg
ing, martial bronze eagle adorn-
and launched in 1912, it was the
ing the bow, the enormous
during
18
suffered
little
of
more
a
maximum
of
A testament to the Ballin
era: the “Imperator”
The sailing ship
“Deutschland”,
Hapag’s first ship
T
he bell of the Hapag
portraying the early Hapag fleet.
Christian Holm, depicts part of
steamer “Cimbria” sits on
The painting by Hermann Ru-
the fleet around the year 1860.
top of a marble plinth at the back
dolph Hardorff shows the ship-
The sailing ship “Oder”, which
of the large reception hall. On a
ping company’s first two sailing
was purchased in 1851 and
foggy January night in 1883, a
ships, the “Deutschland” and the
sailed for Hapag until 1868, can
coal steamer crashed into this
“Nord-Amerika”. They started
be seen here. In 1855, Hapag
combined freight and passenger
the postal, freight and passenger
acquired its first steamers, the
ship off the coast of Borkum,
service of “Packetfahrt”, as
“Hammonia” and the “Borussia”,
killing more than 400 people. In
Hapag was then called.
which were a good 85 metres in
1974, the German research ship
The “Deutschland”, incidentally,
length and had a GRT of 2,000.
“Wega” discovered the wreck of
which was put into service in
The
the “Cimbria”. One of the ship’s
1848, had a GRT of 500. Within
which is in the foreground of the
Part of the Hapag fleet
bells was salvaged. It was care-
the space of just one lifetime –
picture, was put into service in
around 1860
fully restored in the Altona Mu-
65 years – ship technology and
1863 and had a length of
seum and now serves as a
navigation had developed to the
97 metres and a GRT of 2,000.
memorial to all those who have
point of the enormous “Impera-
Like the steamers in the painting,
lost their lives at sea.
tor”, which was at least the
the “Cimbria” was not just
There are also two paintings on
same size as a container ship.
equipped with a steam engine,
display in this part of the hall,
The second painting, by Peter
but also had sails.
20
steamship
“Germania”,
21
Furniture designed by
the architect Höger
Today a canteen –
the former passenger hall
W
hen
settlement
again resplendent in bright,
cracks and damp-
friendly tones. It demonstrates
ness appeared in the hall,
how tradition and a clear focus
making it necessary to carry out
on the future are easily recon-
a costly refurbishment of the roof
ciled. The refurbishment resulted
structure leading to the inner
in some changes in the Ballin
courtyard, the Executive Board
Hall. The staircase in the en-
of Hapag-Lloyd decided in 1996
trance area is more spacious
to largely restore the Ballin Hall to
now and the walls have been
its original 1920s condition in the
finished with an Italian plastering
process. The conference rooms
technique that creates a sense
were also modernised. Following
of depth. The ceiling basks in
the renovation, the former check-
renewed splendour, as does
in hall for passengers to North
some of the furniture such as the
America lost what was to some
tables and chairs, the only ones
extent an overwhelming sense of
designed
monumentalism and is once
architect Fritz Höger.
22
by
the
renowned
The eye-catcher in the
large conference hall is
a painting by Robert Mols
G
ood
acoustics
user-friendly
and
fittings
were very important aspects of
the design of the conference
Modern fittings characterise
rooms. The entrances were
the conference rooms
moved as part of the renovation
work and an additional communication room created on Ballin-
eye-catcher in the large confer-
damm. The large, completely
ence hall is an imposing painting
modernised conference room,
by Belgian painter Robert Mols,
which contains a glass roof to
which the National Shipping
allow daylight in, can now ac-
Museum in Antwerp has given to
commodate up to 150 people.
Hapag-Lloyd on permanent loan.
The hall can be split using divid-
It shows the Port of Hamburg in
ing walls. The new fittings in-
the year 1880. This room also
clude an air-conditioning and
represents how Hapag-Lloyd
built-in speaker system and
has traditionally pursued the goal
more than 30 floor sockets
of striking a balance between the
for electronic equipment. The
time-tested and the new.
24
25
The staircase
designed by Höger
Art nouveau elements
A
on the mirror frames
long with the refurbishment work in the hall,
the adjoining staircase was also
renovated. It was part of the
original building completed in
1903 and its stylistic elements
were adapted to the design of
the Ballin Hall during the extension by Höger at the start of the
1920s. The banisters and ceiling
as the mirror frames, end on the
adornments bear the clear hall-
third floor. The reason is simple:
mark of Höger’s work.
the original building had only
The Alstertor staircase, as it is
three storeys; the fourth floor
tained its present form, including
known, represents typical archi-
was not added until the new part
its fifth floor, after the Second
tecture at the turn of the century.
was built and a combined façade
World War, which it survived
The art nouveau elements, such
constructed. Ballin House ob-
without major damage.
26
27
Hapag-Lloyd Hof
on Rosenstrasse
W
hen the office space
in Ballin House had
once again become too small by
the start of the 1990s and a
further extension was not possible, the Executive Board decided in favour of a new building
in the vicinity. In 1995, Hapag-
marily in the Area Germany and
never changed since the early
Lloyd moved into the modern
IT departments. Steeped in tra-
days
Hapag-Lloyd Hof on Rosen-
dition, Ballin House contains the
deutscher Lloyd: the company is
strasse, designed by renowned
offices of around 900 employ-
clearly structured, commercially
Hamburg architects von Gerkan,
ees, including the Executive
successful, forward-looking and
Marg and Partners (gmp) and
Board, Group departments such
globally aligned – and has been
located just a few metres from
as Legal, Group Communica-
so for more than 165 years. The
Ballin
The
Hapag
and
Nord-
building,
tions and Corporate Develop-
old Hanseatic motto that has
whose light-flooded inner court-
ment, Ship Management and
greeted employees and guests
yard is covered by a 500 m2
various head office divisions. De-
in Ballin House for more than a
glass roof, is the workplace of
spite many a deep fissure in the
century thus remains the same:
more than 400 employees, pri-
company’s history, one thing has
“The world is my oyster”.
28
House.
of
© Hapag-Lloyd Group Communications 06/2012
The
Ba
Ho
•T
Ba
Hapag-Lloyd AG · Ballindamm 25 · 20095 Hamburg · Germany · Phone +49 40 30 01-25 29 · www.hapag-lloyd.com