Gängeviertel

Gängeviertel is a 12-house cultural complex at Valentinskamp 34A in Hamburg’s Neustadt. The historic quarter once stretched from the harbour through Neustadt into the old town, with thousands of working-class families living there in the early 20th century. Its surviving buildings stand along Bäckerbreitergang, between Caffamacherreihe, Valentinskamp and Speckstraße.

After Hamburg accepted a 2008 purchase offer that put most of the historic buildings at risk of demolition, the Gängeviertel initiative occupied the quarter on 22 August 2009. The city later bought it back from the investor. The initiative formed a cooperative to preserve the site, and its association was established in December 2010. The Fabrique, renovated between 2014 and 2015 with city and European Union funding, is the complex’s socio-cultural centre, with a music club, workshops and a gallery. Several other bars, galleries and cafés occupy the site.

The Fabrique hosts club nights and concerts, with events run by promoters including Benedikt Sauer and _spaceout. Artists who have played there include Roman Adam, Surreal (DE) and SVE. Gängeviertel also ran the Moloch club at Oberhafen from 2014 to 2019, followed by Anderswelt from 2019 to 2020; the club space was later demolished.