Milestone achieved for the reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue!
September 04, 2024 | Press Release
Teams from architecture and landscape architecture firms wanted for the international implementation competition:
After intensive preparation, another milestone has been reached for the reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue: The call for proposals for the planning competition has been published.
Teams from architectural firms are now invited to apply to participate in the competition.
The former synagogue on Bornplatz was one of the largest synagogues in Germany. It was built between 1904 and 1906 and was the religious, cultural and social center of the Jewish community in Hamburg for over 30 years. The representative building shaped the cityscape through its free-standing location in urban space and its neo-baroque architectural language. The distinctive dome stood out of the buildings at a height of over 40 meters and was therefore a distinctive part of Hamburg's silhouette. During the National Socialist reign of terror, the synagogue was destroyed and a central place of Jewish life in Hamburg was lost.
The Jewish community in Hamburg and in the city wanted to rebuild this synagogue. The Senate, the citizenry and the federal government have declared their support for this project.
In order to prepare for the implementation of the project, extensive research has been carried out in recent years to clarify the framework for the reconstruction of the synagogue. For example, the feasibility study by the architecture firm Wandel Lorch Götze Wach financed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs, which was completed in September 2022, clarified which urban planning structure should be the basis for future planning. The space program, which will form the basis of the upcoming architectural competition, was also developed.
In January 2024, the investigations carried out by the Hamburg Archaeological Museum on Joseph-Carlebach-Platz were completed, which produced significant historical evidence of the destroyed synagogue.
With the completion of professional planning preparations, which were financed by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, an important milestone has been reached. The application phase for the international two-phase implementation competition for the reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue has started today.
Teams from architecture and landscape architecture firms can submit their application within one month to participate in the competition, for which the 25 best teams will be selected. A top-class jury will decide which of the designs submitted by these teams will be selected for the second phase and which entry will win the competition. The winners of the competition are expected to be announced in autumn 2025.
The implementation of the planning competition, which is intended to provide concrete designs for the construction and open space planning implementation of the reconstruction, is financed by a grant from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs. The City of Hamburg is closely promoting and accompanying the next steps on the way to implementing this important project.
Hamburg's First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher:
“The reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue is an important project to strengthen Jewish life in Hamburg. Following the positive results of the feasibility study and the archaeological investigations, the start of the architectural competition represents the next step on the path of rebuilding the Bornplatz Synagogue in order to create a central location for Jewish life and culture in our city. ”
Carola Veit, President of the Hamburg Parliament and member of the Board of Trustees:
“It is good that today, with the start of the implementation competition, the reconstruction and thus the image of the new Bornplatz synagogue is within reach. Together with the expert and non-cash prize judges, I am looking forward to exciting ideas for implementation. The Jewish church was and should once again be an open place and landmark of Jewish life in the heart of our hometown. ”
Philipp Stricharz, chairman of the Jewish Community in Hamburg:
“With the publication of the process, we have taken a big step closer to reconstruction. The archaeological investigations have shown us what an important piece of Hamburg we are now allowing to rebuild after the destruction. ”
The tender documents are available, among other things, in the Official Journal of the European Union on public tenders
(https://ted.europa.eu/de/notice/-/detail/529910-2024)
as well as in the German Procurement Portal
(https://www.dtvp.de/Satellite/notice/CXP4YNVH428)
ready to download.