The Old and New Harbor

In 2004 the lighting designers were commissioned to work on the evening appearance of the entire ensemble consisting of the Maritime Board, the bridges, bridge control tower and three engine rooms.

The two drawbridges over the connecting canal built between the old and the new harbor in 1928 also form the entrance to the port facilities as a whole. The so-called bridge control tower—the control station is located in the top floor—and the three engine rooms were built in typical brick style. The bridges are still in use today. The former Maritime Board office is also part of the entrance and since August 2005 has been the direct neighbor of the new German Emigration Museum.

The design followed the same principles as the Simon Loschen Tower: no exaggerated presentation, no evening adornment. In contrast to the relatively dark surroundings of the Loschen Tower, the setting of the Old and New Harbors is characterized by many different focal lighting points. As a result, this called for a distinctive presentation. It was important to the lighting designers to work through color, texture and plasticity of the building materials and architectural elements. The bridge lighting has a deliberate character which singles out and emphasizes the structure. In the evening it attracts visitors to the harbor island.

Developer
BEAN, Bremerhavener Entwicklungsgesellschaft Alter / Neuer Hafen mbH & Co KG
BIS Bremerhavener Gesellschaft für Investitionsförderung und Stadtentwicklung mbH

Surface area
200,000 m2

Landscape architects
Latz + Partner GbR, Kranzberg/London
Latz-Riehl + Partner, Kassel

Lighting design
pfarré lighting design
Gerd Pfarré, Katja Möbs

Photography
Markus Tollhopf, Hamburg
Christa Panick, Kassel