During an opening ceremony held on 26 June, the new administration building of the Joachim Herz Foundation in Hamburg-Langenhorn was inaugurated by First Mayor Olaf Scholz and Chairwoman Petra Herz. In addition to providing 80 jobs, the “Achim and Petra Herz House” also offers relaxation and fitness rooms for the foundation’s employees together with a library and a large function room.
Visually the site is dominated by the preserved former coffee roasting tower which Joachim Herz used as an office during his life. Based on the draft of the Hamburg Kitzmann Architekten office, the new construction was realised as a suspended bridge construction so that the view of the red façade of the tower is preserved. However, the new construction stands out with reserved elegance: grey architectural concrete pre-cast parts with acid treatment sheath the façades. Angular retaining walls provide a harmonious look in the outdoor facilities, which were produced in the same appearance by Hering Architectural Concrete.
The Joachim Herz Foundation is considered one of the most influential but simultaneously youngest foundations in Germany. Since its establishment in 2008, shortly before the death of its founder Joachim Herz, the foundation advocated the promotion of teenagers and young adults. It supports educational projects in the areas of business, natural sciences and personality development, organises educational holiday camps and awards scholarships, for instance for advanced education in the USA. The expanded site gives the constantly growing foundation the ability to support additional projects and events, which can now also take place in the “Achim and Petra Herz House”.
