Residence

Something for everyone: social infrastructure in the new district

Sports, spiritual needs, family-oriented - a broad-based social infrastructure has already grown up in HafenCity. New ideas are in the pipeline and existing structures are developing as the district takes shape

Pastor Antje Heider-Rottwilm has already seen to it that the ecumenical forum’s temporary chapel in Grosser Grasbrook is a place for stillness and encounters (© Bina Engel) Start slideshow

For many people, the term "work-life balance" may be just a buzzword, but Margit Werner understands that, it describes a concept that is really crucial to parents, and particularly families. She and her team provide a service that enables parents to combine family and job in a responsible way and to match up to the high demands of both social environments.

Werner manages a business that develops and markets innovative child-care concepts. She is responsible for pme Familienservice GmbH in Hamburg and northern Germany, although the company is active throughout the country and, for example, operates in-house child-care facilities for companies. Now it has brought its services to HafenCity: at Sandtorpark it runs after-school supervision for 70 schoolchildren and takes care of up to 12 children of nearby companies in a nursery group.

The company is also planning a "back-up service," which will offer round-the-clock care for the offspring of co-workers in client companies and from the neighboring child-care center. Thus, for example, if a babysitter calls off or an urgent work appointment crops up, parents can take advantage of it. Werner also plans to get more involved in HafenCity: "As a company, we would like to move into offices of our own in HafenCity, so as to be better able to position the issue of reconciling family and job here on the spot."

The first complete neighborhood in HafenCity was finished in 2009. The social infrastructure available to HafenCity’s resident population - which has meantime reached 1,500 - is already wide-ranging. Alongside family-oriented offerings, the spiritual sphere is also present. Pastor Antje Heide-Rottwilm heads the new ecumenical forum, Brücke.

Eighteen Christian churches have joined forces in what is, for Germany, a unique project. The small temporary chapel on Grosser Grasbrook has already opened its doors for prayer sessions, discussion circles and other events. "But above all," explains Heider-Rottwilm, "the chapel is a place of silence." It is not only used by people living or working in HafenCity, tourists also seek out and enjoy this island of peace.

By 2012 the Brücke’s own new building in Elbtorquartier will have been completed. The ground floor will be open to the surrounding community, with a chapel, a world café and an information foyer. The stories above will accommodate multi-generational and communal forms of living.

Heider-Rottwilm also plans to move in herself: up to now she has been living on Kaiserkai with her husband Martin. "What makes the project so exciting is that it is especially conceived as a solution for this new, unique city district," emphasizes the pastor.

It is clear that HafenCity motivates many residents, people working locally and even visitors to get active themselves and develop something new and special. Matthias and Bärbel Czaja, for instance, are also very involved in their new neighborhood. Matthias, a court of justice security guard, trains the kids in Störtebeker SV soccer club, while his wife actively supports the ongoing development of Katharinenschule primary through the parent-teacher association (PTA).

What was it that made them both get so involved? "I used to be a trainer and youth leader back in Bergedorf (a Hamburg suburb), so I’m simply carrying on with it at Störtebeker SV," answers Matthias matter-of-factly in typical Hamburg style. And almost keeps quiet about the fact that he was also one of the co-founders of the HafenCity sports club.

Czaja trains around 15 children twice a week in the art of dribbling and shooting goals, in team spirit and fair play. And then there are competitive tournaments at weekends. The youngsters have already tasted success, but when they are not so successful sometimes, the trainer consoles them by saying: “it’s taking part that counts” - which could also be said for his involvement in HafenCity.