Federal Housing Minister Visits Hamburg Standard: A Model for Affordable Construction
Hamburg, September 17 – Federal Housing Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) visited Hamburg on Thursday to attend the topping-out ceremony for the first 90 apartments constructed under the innovative ‘Hamburg Standard’ model in the Marienthal district. The project, celebrated for its potential to significantly reduce construction costs, has garnered national attention.
The ‘Hamburg Standard’ aims to cut construction expenses by one-third, a crucial step towards addressing the housing shortage. The project, located on Schimmelmannstraße in the Morellenquartier, is already demonstrating its efficiency, with concrete stairwells in place and prefabricated wooden elements being rapidly installed.
Hubertz: “Less is More”
During her visit to the construction site, Minister Hubertz expressed her admiration for the Hansa Baugenossenschaft’s project. “Less is more – and yet you live beautifully. Here, frills are dispensed with by simply limiting oneself to the essentials in terms of sound insulation, underground parking, and balconies,” Hubertz stated, highlighting the project’s focus on practicality and affordability.
Hamburg Standard as a National Model?
The Federal Housing Minister views the ‘Hamburg Standard’ as a potential model for the entire country. This sentiment was warmly received by Hamburg’s Senator for Urban Development, Karen Pein (SPD). “This is truly a very special day today, which is also very important to me. It is the first project that proves that the Hamburg Standard is also feasible,” Pein remarked, emphasizing the project’s success in demonstrating its viability.
Attic Storage Instead of Cellars
Indeed, the construction cost per square meter for these 90 social housing units is only 3,600 Euros, compared to the usual 4,800 Euros. Instead of expensive cellars, residents will benefit from practical storage space in the attic, a clever solution to further reduce costs without compromising functionality.
New Insulation Methods Tested by Vonovia
In related news, the Vonovia group is testing a new renovation model in Lurup, Hamburg, to make apartments climate-neutral more quickly and affordably. This initiative reflects a broader effort within the city to innovate in housing and sustainability.
The significance of the ‘Hamburg Standard’ extends beyond local impact, with its potential to influence national housing policies and provide a blueprint for more affordable and sustainable construction across Germany. The project’s success in Marienthal offers a promising outlook for future urban development.
This topic was covered on NDR 90,3 | NDR 90,3 Aktuell | 17.09.2026 | 17:00 Uhr.
