Dear friends of Katharinenhof,
In 2009, the Katharinenhof was sold by the City of Hamburg and was in dire need of renovation.
Its new owner, Peter Bishop, began initial restoration work before selling it to Baurs Park GbR in 2022. Their concept envisages a barrier-free revitalization of the Katharinenhof through a cultural use that includes exhibitions, residencies for international artists, office space and a gastronomic offer. The owners want to create a place that is open to the urban community and respects its special history and the conditions imposed by the municipality. It is to become an exhibition venue for contemporary themes and artistic positions that enrich Hamburg's cultural life, signal openness to the world and historical awareness and, in this sense, inspire and involve local people and place them in a variety of contexts.
In March 2023, the building application for the restoration of the Katharinenhof and the coach house in line with the preservation order was submitted to the building authorities in Hamburg. Following its approval in July 2025, the construction work should be completed within two years. As the buildings were not accessible to the public for almost two decades, we would like to make it possible to go back inside the buildings, at least virtually, with our picture galleries and film footage. These recordings are also a contemporary document because, on the one hand, they capture the condition of the building and many of the layers of its history that can be seen in it before construction began. But also because the old rooms of the building will no longer be visible in their enchanted beauty after the necessary repairs.
In the "News" section below, we will keep you informed about the progress of the building work following the granting of planning permission. You can get a comprehensive insight into the interior of the buildings and the condition of the monument before construction began on the separate page with various views in video films through all the buildings, their walk-in 3D models, through which you can navigate individually, and photo galleries with classic architectural photographs of the main house and the coach house.
We look forward to the upcoming changes at Katharinenhof and your interest in this development. We invite you to share your memories, photos or questions relating to Katharinenhof with us and to get in touch with us.
+++ NEWS // +++
September 13/14, 2025:
Open House
21.07.2025
Katharinenhof Blankenese is taking part in Hamburg's "Open Monument Day" for the first time in 2025. On September 13 and 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., we are inviting the curious to what may be the last tour of the building in its unrenovated state.
Program: Sat. and Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Presentations of works by students of the HFBK, class of Prof. Omer Fast. Lectures: Sat. 3.30 pm by Joachim Eggeling on the history of Blankenes and Sun. 3.30 pm by Andreas Anders, architect. Guided tour: Sat. 2 pm with Dr. Holger Reimers, hist. Building expert.
You can find the complete program here:
17.07.2025
July 2025:
Joyful announcement in the Hamburger Abendblatt
The Hamburger Abendblatt is delighted with us about the building permit.
On July 17, 2025, the Hamburger Abendblatt published an article by Katy Krause on the building permit granted for the Katharinenhof Blankenese. The report provides insights into the planned construction project and highlights the next steps on the way to a new cultural venue for Blankenese.
We thank you very much - and take the momentum with us into the start of the renovation.
15.07.2025
Planning permission granted: Green light for the renovation
Katharinenhof in Blankenese has received planning permission to implement the redevelopment concept. On July 15, 2025, the owners of Katharinenhof Blankenese published an official on the building permit granted. The project provides for exhibitions by international artists, office space and a restaurant. Now that planning permission has been granted, the owners and the planning team will continue to work closely with the heritage office to ensure that the conversion to an open cultural venue is carried out sensitively.
We are delighted about the go-ahead!
October 2024: Summary - Open Day
08.11.2024
On Saturday, 12.10.2024, Katharinenhof opened its doors to the public for the first time in 15 years. Around 400 visitors explored the building in perfect weather - some even with folding rulers - and enthusiastically shared personal memories. Many remembered the former book hall and the local office, associated with events such as collecting wedding certificates or identity documents. The entire building was completely cleaned and secured within three days. And 10 supervisors made every effort to ensure that visitors had a pleasant stay and that all questions were answered in the best possible way.
October 2024:
Open day
12.10.2024
Dear friends of the Katharinenhof,
While awaiting planning permission, we would like to open the doors of the building to all interested parties on October 12 and cordially invite you to visit the historic building with us in its current state.
Many traces of its former history as Georg Friedrich Baur's summer house and later local office are still visible.
We will be happy to welcome you on site between 1 and 5 pm.
We look forward to your visit!
Yours sincerely
Your Katharinenhof team
May 2024:
Erection of construction fence
08.04.2024
Since May, the site has been surrounded by a new construction fence. It
security of the buildings and is both transparent in its form and adapted to the
and adapted to the green surroundings. An information board provides information on the status of the
planning and a QR code enables a virtual visit to the rooms of the building, which have
the rooms of the Katharinenhof in their current state of construction.
state of construction.
January 2024:
3D building model
17.01.2024
A variety of shots were taken over several days to document the condition of the buildings. Architectural photographer Jo Walter photographed the rooms of the main house and the coach house, as well as the corresponding exterior views. Under the direction of Jörg Thommes, the team from the GROSSE8 agency also created video tours through all of the floors in the buildings and, using a special camera, the scans for a virtual and personally navigable
,
which is made available to the public on our homepage.
August 2023:
Gastro workshop
30.08.2023
An important aspect of Katharinenhof’s new life later on will be food services for guests. To this end we met with food service consultants, a restaurateur and kitchen fitters, who gave us valuable advice on planning and equipping the service areas and the architectural implementation.
March 2023: Submission of the building application
31.03.2023
The building application arranged with the building inspection department was submitted in the first quarter of 2023, as agreed with the city. The application was optimised in constructive cooperation with the building inspection department and the authorities involved in order to meet as many requirements as possible, including those related to historical preservation. Coordination discussions concluded in 2023, meaning that we are looking forward to receiving the building inspection department decision soon.
September 2022:
Site visits
01.09.2022
Within a year following acquisition of the property, a team of architects, building technicians and experts from various fields developed a utilisation concept and associated maintenance measures in ongoing discussions with various city offices. This involved numerous site visits by authorities and the development of a barrier-free usage concept for guests and employees.
Detailed views
Stairs + railings
Materials
Patina + details
View inside
the buildings
The following photos, taken in January 2024, document the condition of the interior of the main house and the coach house before the start of the construction work.
They give a vivid impression of the condition of the main house after the previous owner’s initial renovation and security measures and showcase the variety of different uses for the house over history – from the magnificent staircase and skylight on the first floor, the air-raid shelter from the Second World War and the wall paintings in the party cellar from the 1950s to the washrooms in the municipal office, wallpaper remnants from a children’s room from the 1970s and the cloakroom in the coach house library.
