The Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier

The classic shopping center as an isolated consumption island has become obsolete today. To make retail spaces future-proof, they need to be completely reimagined and integrated into urban development. And expanded to include the factor of experience.

Especially in times of increasing online commerce, they must offer more than just shopping: surprise, atmosphere, encounter, and magic. The recipe for success: combining emotional quality and community building. Models that create attractive public spaces, sustainably revive neighborhoods, and contribute to active urban development will continue to be successful in the future.

A vibrant part of the city: The Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier
13 buildings, 419,000 m² total area, of which around 100,000 m² total rental space: The Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier is a project of superlatives. The goal was to create a city district in the center of the HafenCity in Hamburg that redefines shopping - not as a closed-off retail world, but as an open, integrative space in the middle of the city.

An international collective of architectural and specialist planning offices was responsible for the individual sub-projects, with ATP Krakow (formerly IMB Asymetria, part of the ATP Group since 2023) as the main coordinator and chief architect. Among other things, we were responsible for the BIM-based planning coordination, the execution planning of individual sections, and the interior design of the retail spaces.

The vision of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier was to create a cosmopolitan place that attracts residents, tourists, and professionals alike as a multifunctional city block. The area used to be industrial, and while residential and office buildings have emerged in recent years, attractive public spaces were missing.

Mixed-use models have proven to be an engine for revitalizing neighborhoods: they combine different functions in one place, allow for short distances and the mixing of users, and foster social interaction. The connection of different uses is both an opportunity and a challenge – that is, when it comes to not merely placing them side by side but harmoniously weaving them together to create a coherent, integrated whole. Otherwise, the neighborhood breaks down into isolated zones.

With its high-quality overall concept encompassing retail, dining, hotels, offices, and mobility – along with attractive open spaces – Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier fully exploits the potential of the HafenCity and plays a key role in the development of the city of Hamburg.

In the first three months after its opening in April 2025, the new district already recorded 4 million users. And analyses show: It is by no means taking visitors away from Hamburg's city center, as some feared. On the contrary, footfall has actually increased there. The Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier not only attracts new audiences itself but also revitalizes the city center as a whole – a synergy effect that strengthens urban dynamics!

Setting Standards Today for a Better Tomorrow
Under the agenda "Better Places 2030," the client Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is committed to a high sustainability standard with positive ecological, social, and economic stimuli for the city and society. The Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier should function as an 'urban space of tomorrow,' serving as an experimental and practical field for sustainable ideas.

As Germany's first major project, it received the new DGNB certification for sustainable construction sites. Measures such as resource protection, recyclable materials for construction, and energy-saving solutions represent the resource-efficient approach of the project. All buildings are certified with the BREEAM Excellent standard, several office buildings have the DGNB Gold certificate, and one received a LEED certification.

Construction work was carried out considering ecological criteria. Around 90 percent of the cement used is low in CO₂, saving about 23,800 tons of CO₂. In addition, through inner-city densification, the sealing of approximately 8,000 m² of natural and agricultural land was avoided.

We see Retail as holistic urban spaces
For us, Retail is not an isolated building type, but an integral part of vibrant cities. We interpret commercial properties as part of a larger whole, focusing on economic, ecological, and social sustainability. Our Retail expertise is based on decades of experience with complex commercial properties in urban contexts – from new construction to refurbishment, from landmark projects to comprehensive neighborhood solutions.

Among the many successful commercial properties, ATRIO in Villach attracted special attention in 2008 when, with its urbanly organized mall, it was named by the international ICSC as the best and most sustainable center in the world. This was followed by further centers with urban concepts, including G3 Shopping Resort Gerasdorf – Austria's first 'Eco-Shopping Center' – and the ALEJA shopping and neighborhood center in Ljubljana, which received the ICONIC AWARD, the Global RLI Award, and the Design and Development Award.
The assignment for the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier was a continuation of a proven collaboration. During the Wroclavia Shopping Center in Wrocław, Unibail-Rodamco was already convinced by ATP Krakow's Retail expertise – with a concept that combines the highest design and technical quality with a clear reference to the urban context. During the planning and construction phase, the commercial part of 'Wroclavia' was BREEAM certified with the grade 'Excellent'. The project also received the awards 'Best Retail Architecture Europe' and 'Best International Retail Architecture 2018–2019'.

Another project where Unibail-Rodamco relied on our Retail competence was the revitalization of the Shopping City Süd in Vösendorf near Vienna – the largest shopping center in Austria. As part of the general refurbishment, the extensive complex dating back to 1975, including several modifications and additions, underwent not only comprehensive technical renewal but also a stylistic enhancement through a coherent overall concept.

These two successful joint stories provided the ideal basis for renewed cooperation on the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier – with increased trust, commitment, and shared values.

Future model for urban development
The Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier project vividly demonstrates how Retail can act as a catalyst for urban spaces. With its thoughtful Mixed-Use concept, it sets an example for new commercial spaces that go beyond mere places of consumption and promote encounter, diversity, and sustainability as vibrant neighborhoods.

As the main coordinator and chief architect role, we played a crucial role in realizing this vision. Through experience in Integrated Design, the use of BIM, and the consistent implementation of high sustainability standards, we managed to structure the complexity of the project, reduce interfaces, and ensure the highest quality at all levels. This resulted in a neighborhood that convinces functionally, aesthetically, and in urban planning – and sets a benchmark for future Retail spaces.

¹ WELT online (01.07.2025): “Westfield-Einkaufszentrum schadet Innenstadt bislang nicht”