A landmark of 1920s brick Expressionist architecture, the Chilehaus is shaped like a ship's bow at its narrow eastern point and was built for a merchant who traded with Chile. It anchors the Kontorhausviertel office district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Speicherstadt.
The Chilehaus is one of the defining examples of 1920s brick Expressionist architecture, designed by architect Fritz Höger and completed in 1924 for merchant Henry Brarens Sloman, who had made his fortune trading Chilean saltpeter. Its most striking feature is the building's narrow eastern point at the corner of Fischertwiete and Pumpen, where the facade tapers to resemble the bow of an ocean liner, complete with rows of small windows that echo ship portholes. The building anchors the Kontorhausviertel, a cluster of early 20th-century office buildings that together with neighboring Speicherstadt form a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its brick commercial architecture. Because it remains a working office building, the interior is not open to the public, so a visit consists of viewing and photographing the exterior from the surrounding streets, particularly the sharp prow-like corner and the terraced upper floors that step back as the building rises. A stop of 15 to 30 minutes is enough to walk around the building and take in its angles from different sides. Morning light works particularly well on the eastern point, catching the dark clinker brick at an angle that emphasizes its ship-like shape, while the surrounding streets are generally quiet outside of weekday office hours.
| Admission | Free (exterior only) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Exterior viewable 24 hours (private office building, no public interior access) |
| Typical visit | 15-30 minutes |
| Best time | Morning light on the pointed eastern facade |
| Getting there | U1 Meßberg, 2-minute walk |
| Address | Fischertwiete 2, 20095 Hamburg |
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Location
Fischertwiete 2, 20095 Hamburg
53.5497, 10.0033 View on map
Highlights
- Ship's-bow-shaped eastern point designed by architect Fritz Höger
- Dark clinker brick Expressionist facade completed in 1924
- Anchor building of the UNESCO-listed Kontorhausviertel district
- Terraced upper floors stepping back from the street
- Porthole-style window rows echoing the building's ocean-liner theme
Tips for visiting
- Walk around all sides of the building to see how the facade changes shape
- Visit in the morning for the best light on the eastern prow-shaped corner
- The interior is a working office building and not open to the public
- Combine with a walk through the rest of the Kontorhausviertel office district
- Weekday mornings are quieter than lunchtime, when office workers fill the surrounding streets
When to visit
Morning light best highlights the angled brick facade at the building's ship-bow corner.
Accessibility
The surrounding streets and sidewalks are flat and wheelchair accessible; there is no public interior access to assess.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
Viewing the exterior from different angles takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
Is it worth it for kids?
It suits older children with an interest in architecture more than very young kids, since there is no interior visit.
Is photography allowed?
Photography of the exterior is allowed freely from the surrounding public streets.