Hamburg: Ballinhaus (Meßberghof)

1923 – 1924

Architects: Hans and Oskar Gerson

Meßbergplatz 1, Hamburg, Germany

The listed Ballinhaus (Meßberghof) is one of the first buildings in Hamburg’s Kontorhaus district.

It was built between 1923 and 1924 as a reinforced concrete structure, faced with Bockhorn clinker bricks and designed by the brothers Hans and Oskar Gerson.

It comprises about 12,000 square meters of office space.

Ballinhaus

In contrast to the neighboring Chilehaus, the Ballinhaus impresses with its flat facade and compact building form.

However, Gothicizing elements typical of the period can also be found here, such as the crystalline decoration of the entrances and the monumental pilasters on the fronts.

The pilasters were originally also decorated with sculptures by Ludwig Kunstmann and their arrangement was reminiscent of medieval church facades.

The building is named after the Hamburg shipowner Albert Ballin. Because of his Jewish origin, the Ballinhaus was forcibly renamed Meßberghof in 1938.

Sculptures

The grotesques made of shell limestone on the facade were created by Ludwig Kunstmann.

Other sculptures on the pilasters had to be removed in 1968 because of their poor state of preservation. These were replaced by works by the sculptor Lothar Fischer.

Staircases

The staircases in Hamburg’s Kontor buildings had a primarily representational function.

This is also the case in the Ballinhaus, where the staircase stretches openly upwards over ten floors and is particularly magnificently designed.

A round skylight made of colored glass arranged in a star shape closes off the staircase.

A stone lizard sits on the handrail on each floor.

Door leaves and frames as well as stair rods are gilded with impact metal.