Quick Links

During World War Two, the Germans built formidable Flak Towers or anti-aircraft bunkers to try to shield themselves from the withering fire of constant Allied bombing. These massive reinforced concrete bunkers were built in Berlin, Vienna, and Hamburg. After the war, they were very difficult to demolish. In the end, the conversation moved on to how to repurpose them.

One of the massive Hamburg Flak Towers (there are two in the city) was converted into an electric nightclub (others in Vienna and Berlin into fallout shelters, storage for works of art, aquariums, restaurants, or just left as the domain of bats). Enjoying the energetic nightlife of Hamburg in this mighty bunker is part of any essential weekend itinerary of the stunning city of Hamburg.

The Incredible Story Of The Flak Towers

The flak towers all have fascinating stories. Perhaps no bunker matches the Hamburg Flak Tower for its evolution of the vision and values of a nation. It was once an instrument of war, and now is the party location for the youth of the city, and tomorrow is to be a leading example of the city's green revolution.

The "Hochbunker" (lit. ‘high bunker’) is located next to the U3-station Feldstrasse and is one of the starkest reminders of the dark days of the war. During the air raids in Hamburg, around 25,000 people sought refuge within it.

  • Original Name: Flakturm IV (lit. 'Flak Tower IV')
  • Built: 1942
  • Walls: 3.5 Meters (11.5 Feet) Thick
  • Size: 75 by 75 Meters Wide and 35 Meters High

By the end of the conflict, Hamburg counted around 1,050 bunkers (more than any other German city) - around 650 of these bunkers remain today. Most of them are small or below ground - none are like the mighty Flak Towers. One can also see the many bunkers in Berlin and some of them are open to the public.

One of the reasons why it wasn't demolished after the war, was because the number of explosives needed to destroy it would have also destroyed many of the residential buildings around the bunker.

  • TV-Broadcast: The First TV-Broadcast In Germany Was Made From the Bunker In 1950
  • Number of Bunkers In Hamburg: Around 650 Remain Today

Related: 15 Photos Of The Most Over-The-Top Doomsday Bunkers From Around The World

The Flak Tower As A Nightclub Today

But the former anti-aircraft bunker offers a very different vibe today and is said to move forward with the times some more. It is now host to live music, several nightclubs, a large music store, and even office space for artists and musicians.

Near future plans involve the installation of an urban rooftop garden on the bunker. Now that's a transformation! From war to nightclubbing and a futuristic green roof!

One of the benefits of having such thick walls is that it makes it ideal for more noisy events. People can enjoy live music without having to worry about disturbing other people around them.

  • Nightclub Uebel&Gefährlich: Located On The Top Floor
  • Music Store: Located On The Ground Floor

Tickets are for sale on the Uebel&Gefährlich website, although the website is only in Germany. One can also see their calendar of upcoming events. Imagine how surreal it would be to party all night in a massive bunker that thousands of people once sheltered in for fear of their lives from all the bombs raining all around.

Related: Nuclear Fallout Bunker: England's Biggest & Deepest Open Bunker

Green Roofing The Bunker

There are now plans to green roof the bunker. It is part of a wider plan to transform the city of Hamburg's appearance and quality of life. There are many benefits of rooftop gardens (they protect the building from snow, rain, and heat while making the buildings more efficient). They also improve the quality of the air and increase energy efficiency.

  • Greening: The Hamburg Flak Tower is Set To Have A Garden On the Top

See Hamburg's formidable and indestructible bunker in a year or two, and it may remain one of the grass-covered houses of Iceland. Visit now and later and see who it swaps its gray ramparts for green spaces.

  • 70%: Percent Of Suitable Hamburg Roofs to Be Topped With Gardens

The greening of the Hamburg Flak Tower (also called St. Pauli Bunker on Feldstrasse) is but the most ambitious and prominent gardening project being undertaken in the progressive German city. In fact, some 70% of all suitable rooftops in Hamburg are to be topped with vegetation.