Especially in the current crisis-ridden times with such diverse challenges, it is all the more important to continue to drive forward the sustainable transformation and the mobility turnaround. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) is helping to ensure that the ambitious mobility goals of the city of Hamburg can also be achieved. To this end, URW is working with its partners in Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, which is currently under construction, to comprehensively promote and expand the use of sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable means of transport with a low accident rate.
In order to offer the best possible mobility experience, all existing offers of smart and sustainable mobility in the city will be integrated into the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier: Subway, bicycle and scooter, which can be used on a barrier-free infrastructure. “Owning your own car is becoming less and less important, but shared economy mobility is gaining in popularity,” says Karen Mester-Lichtsinn, senior marketing manager and responsible for community issues in Hamburg at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the project developer and investor of the new urban quarter in HafenCity.
The quarter will become an exemplary mobility hub for the entire city. “The Überseequartier subway station was one of the most important factors for us in deciding on this project development and the associated investment costs of more than one billion euros. Without the subway as a centerpiece, we would never have embarked on the project,” says Dirk Hünerbein, Head of Development Austria & Germany at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.
Ahoy sustainability
The newly created subway station not only offers convenient access for those who want to use the quarter as a place to experience and store, but is also a special pioneer in the cruise sector. This is because the cruise terminal in the new Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier is the first terminal in Europe to have its own subway connection.
To ensure that all visitors from the entire Hamburg district and beyond have an ideal journey here, too, subway line 4 runs from Billstedt via the main train station and Jungfernstieg to Elbbrücken – and additionally from Horner Geest to the new Grasbrook district.
Broad and sustainable mobility offer
Energy-saving processes are essential for the environment and for shaping a green future. People are also increasingly aware of sustainable lifestyles and act accordingly. The young, upcoming generation in particular feels a responsibility to make a contribution to sustainability.
To meet the demands and desires of today’s world, there is a comprehensive range of services for this purpose: car, bike, scooter and motor scooter sharing options are available. “Together with Hamburger Hochbahn, we would like to set up the most modern switch point in Hamburg in the quarter. There will be collection points for rental scooters and mopeds and we are in talks with all bike sharing providers. There will also be a large station of the popular city bike integrated in the quarter,” says Mester-Lichtsinn.
“Soft mobility” in the quarter
Above ground, the entire district will be a car-free zone. Only on the three basement levels will it be possible to move around by car. Remarkably, 350 parking spaces with charging functions for e-cars will be available in the parking areas in the future. “The increase in charging infrastructure at Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier is a welcome measure for the mobility turnaround. This offers people the opportunity to actively do their part for climate protection and to use electric vehicles. In addition, the public charging stations complement well with the advanced cab and car-sharing electrification in Hamburg,” says Anjes Tjarks, Senator for Transport and Mobility Transition. Karen Mester-Lichtsinn adds, “The mobility turnaround is a long process, and Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, as a real-life laboratory, can make an important contribution to helping people reach their goals with soft mobility.”
