HafenCity: Mobility, accessibility and public spaces in Hamburg, Germany

Abstract

The issue of public spaces on wetlands is a matter of international concern. In spite of this fact, this question seems to be relegated to the background in the city of São Paulo, once it is observed expressways and arterial roads developed on flooding levels inside the city. The HafenCity urban project, under implementation, presents an interesting design of public and accessible spaces, which considers flood quotas allowing paths in any situation of flood. In May 2012, held a study trip to HafenCity, aiming to record some of these public spaces being implemented. The visit to that site and photographic report of this urban project revealed interesting details of the urban landscape of HafenCity, which extend beyond the concern with recurring floods, prioritizing mobility and accessibility to public spaces.