Chilehaus
Chilehaus is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Hamburg audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~30 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Hamburg Hamburg guide
About Chilehaus
An iconic 1924 Expressionist brick skyscraper shaped like a ship's prow, part of Hamburg's UNESCO-listed Kontorhausviertel office district.
The Chilehaus is one of the most celebrated examples of Expressionist architecture in the world, completed in 1924 to a design by Fritz Höger. The building was commissioned by Henry Sloman, a wealthy Hamburg merchant who made his fortune in the Chilean nitrate trade, hence the name. Its most dramatic feature is the eastern facade, which tapers to a sharp point like the prow of a great ocean liner, an unmistakably nautical gesture in a city built on maritime trade. The ten-storey dark clinker brick tower was revolutionary for its time, creating Hamburg's first true skyscraper. Together with the nearby Sprinkenhof and Meßberghof office buildings, it forms the Kontorhausviertel, the warehouse and office quarter, which was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015 alongside the Speicherstadt. Today the Chilehaus remains in use as offices and is considered a masterpiece of the Brick Expressionism movement.
Did you know? The Chilehaus was named after Chile because its patron Henry Sloman made his fortune in the Chilean saltpetre trade.
How long should you spend at Chilehaus?
Plan about ~30 min at Chilehaus. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Chilehaus worth visiting?
Chilehaus is one of the 22 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Hamburg, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Hamburg
Hear the story of Chilehaus
Preview the Hamburg tour free in the Gingerguide app.