Jupiter Hamburg: Creative interim use as a model for the future

Vacancies and structural change also affect the big players – the big cities and the big properties. In the former Karstadt Sport directly at Hamburg’s main railway station, a creative interim use has been created that shows how cityscape-defining properties can be revitalized: Jupiter Hamburg, which opened in 2022.

Louisa Schwope and Celina Behn from Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft present Germany’s largest creative industry interim use in the web talk Stadtkantine. Here we report on the background and lessons learned from the project.

Jupiter Hamburg opened in 2021 and is one of the most ambitious interim use projects in Germany: the “creative planet for Hamburg” offers 8,000 square meters and six floors of interim use space for the creative industry – for exhibitions, coworking spaces, thinking and discussion rooms and pop-up stores.

The Jupiter is in a prominent location in Hamburg – at the transition from the main train station to the city center. When Karstadt Sport left the large property in 2020 and further vacancies were added in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Hamburg had to act: The Frei_Fläche: Space for creative interim use funding program was created.

Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft is responsible for managing the interim use projects from the funding program. In February 2025, the two Frei_Fläche project managers Louisa Schwope and Celina Behn reported on their experiences in our web talk Stadtkantine.

Originally financed from coronavirus funds, the project has been funded from the city budget since 2023. The main goal: to fill vacant spaces with creative industry players and thus revitalize the city centre. Artists, designers, architects, game developers and many other creative minds use the space to implement innovative projects.

This is not a rental model; instead, only flat-rate operating and ancillary costs are paid. Vacancy costs are avoided for owners, the space is positively used and communicated – and long-term prospective tenants can continue to view the space.

The only department store that makes you richer. – The exhibition areas of Jupiter Hamburg are freely accessible to the public

The Jupiter Hamburg is based on a well thought-out and multi-layered utilization concept:

• First floor: fashion, design, retail and café
• 1st floor: urban art and dance, open meeting place for young people
• 2nd floor: Art, fashion and circular economy (3D printing, tailoring)
• 3rd floor: changing program and exhibitions (architecture, building culture)
• 4th floor: offers for children and school classes (theater, history, 3D printing)
• 5th floor: bar, music and culture (event areas, table tennis, materials management)
• Roof terrace: event venue with a view over Hamburg

We summarize the lessons learned from Stadtkantine for Jupiter Hamburg. Because the city is what we make of it together.

This is a motto that not only we at Stadtmanufaktur live by, but also all the speakers who inspire us in our web talk Stadtkantine with their successful projects and their commitment to urban transformation, city center development and innovative real estate use in city centres.

Interim uses must initially attract many visitors – and remain exciting in the long term with a constantly changing program and new events.

• Success always depends on fresh concepts and events.
• Every new concept and every new interim user brings their own community with them. An “alternating floor”, where usage changes regularly, continuously attracts new groups of visitors.
• Intensive support and supervision of interim use by a permanent team on site increases the attractiveness.
• Some days of the week (especially Monday/Tuesday) are less busy, but the users have made a conscious decision not to close, as the place serves as a retreat (e.g. during strikes or waiting times).

• A familiar use such as shopping and gastronomy on the first floor alleviates fears of contact, as visitors are familiar with this type of use from department stores.
• The central location at the main station was decisive for the success and frequency.

In addition to typical target groups such as residents, tourists and commuters, communities were specifically addressed, including:

• Young people through projects such as the Hip-Hop Academy, who otherwise often feel pushed out of city centers.
• Migrant communities that use the space for events and exhibitions (e.g. “Black-Owned Brands” on the first floor).
• technology and gaming scene, which was attracted by festivals and exhibitions.

• Package deals with tested contract templates, brokerage platforms and flat-rate costs make implementation easier.
• An intermediary between owners and tenants is essential.
• Interim uses should be implemented for less than five years within the framework of existing permits – an amendment application is only worthwhile for longer periods.

• Accompanying communication and advertising are important for the realignment of the property, possibly also through paid cooperation.
• Political will and support in the background are key factors.

Jupiter Hamburg impressively demonstrates how new usage concepts for large properties can revitalize and enrich city centres and urban communities: Diversity, creativity and constant renewal make Jupiter Hamburg a place of experience with a future. And the Jupiter is just one of several projects in the Frei_Flächen in Hamburg funding program.

According to the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, never before has a municipality invested so much money to enable creative interim uses. With success: in 2024, Jupiter Hamburg won the Polis Award in the “Reactivated Centers” category.

Image credit: Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, jupiter.hamburg