Damaged structures Gruenspan and Indra require repairs
The German city of Hamburg plans to renovate the iconic music clubs Gruenspan and Indra, according to a joint statement from the city's Culture and Finance departments. A significant investment of nearly 19 million euros will be made to modernize these historical venues, which have been deemed necessary for structural reasons, the departments said.
Both music clubs are located on Große Freiheit 58-70. The scheduled renovation, including the residential spaces above the clubs, is expected to commence in the summer of 2025. Particular attention is needed for the renovation of the Gruenspan, as indicated by the Senate. Planned improvements include exterior and interior facelifts, enhanced fire safety, and structural enhancements. The famous fresco, a collaborative piece by artists Werner Nöfer and Dieter Glasmacher, is expected to be reapplied on the club façade following the renovations.
The renovation costs will be fully covered by Hamburg's own funds, as the initial funding by the federal government did not materialize in September 2024, as anticipated. However, the city's Legislature must still approve the funding. Of the nearly 19 million euros, the city will take 14.3 million from the remaining funds of the Sanitation Fund, along with guarantees and reserve positions from the Finance Department.
In addition, Hamburg's city-owned real estate company, Sprinkenhof, will contribute to the funding efforts with its own resources. This brings the estimated total funds available for the renovations to around 18.9 million euros. Sprinkenhof is a commercial real estate company under the Hamburg Finance Department's purview, and the Große Freiheit 58-70 has been under its ownership since 1999.
For the duration of the renovation work, both clubs will need to temporarily relocate. While more detailed plans for the Gruenspan's interim location are being finalized, the owner of Indra plans to close the club during construction. The operation of Gruenspan, a cultural landmark of Hamburg's music scene for over 50 years, and Indra, a significant club in the history of Hamburg's club scene where the Beatles famously played their first concert, is being assured.
Source: dpa, Louisa Eck
Louisa Eck, born in 2002, wrote an article about a farmer collecting chestnuts for his pigs in the third grade for her school newspaper. Ever since then, it was clear she wanted to be a journalist. Louisa studied Media Science in Cologne, and a brief stint in PR at the Cologne Institute of German Economy did not deter her from pursuing journalism. In Cologne, she discovered her love for carnival and her talent for creating vegan baked goods. Since moving back to her hometown of Hamburg, her carnival costume has been in storage. In the HAW Newsroom, she now defends Alaaf against Helau and celebrates Kolsch over Alt and Astra. Nickname: eck.
- Read more from Louisa Eck:
- The Cemetery at Ohlsdorf – Resting Place or Park?
- Equal Stage for All: Flinta taking the Decks
- The Finches will Fly
- A Day at the Elite School of Sports
The home-and-garden section may discuss the renovation of two iconic music clubs, Gruenspan and Indra, situated on Große Freiheit 58-70 in Hamburg, as part of the city's plans to modernize historical venues. General news could cover the estimated 18.9 million euros renovation budget, with funding coming from Hamburg's own funds, the Sanitation Fund, and Sprinkenhof, a city-owned real estate company.
The entertainment industry will likely be following the news about the scheduled renovation commencing in the summer of 2025, as both music clubs, including cultural landmarks such as Gruenspan, known for its 50-year history in Hamburg's music scene, and Indra, where the Beatles famously played their first concert, will need to temporarily relocate during reconstruction.
