«Apartimentum» in Hamburg

Smart homes have long been the subject of discussion. Although the number of model buildings has risen over the years, they have always remained modest and manageable projects. Now however, a smart home in a somewhat more sizeable format is to become a reality. For the first time. In the upmarket Hamburg district of Rotherbaum near the Old Alster Lake, developer Lars Hinrichs has fulfilled a dream. The founder of the social network Xing recognised at an early age that the Internet offered opportunities that go far beyond pure inter-personal communication. Being also extremely interested in interior design, he acquired a multi-storey property on Mittelweg that, although worthy of a lord, was in a somewhat dilapidated state. Ultimately he has a desire to show the world that the favoured BUS-controlled home comfort is a thing of the past and connectedness is the way forward. No doubt the project will also involve the incorporation of a smart fridge, which orders food via an IP address. But Lars Hinrichs believes the primary advancement will be the residential ID, which recognises the requirements of each resident and responds to them with their own customised, optimal room temperature, music, TV favourites and lighting moods. The smart home will remember all the relevant information and retrieve it the moment the respective tenant walks through the door.

However, there are no plans to turn the classic style of living on its head. People will still be sitting on sofas, cooking in kitchens and eating at the dining table – if they can find the time, that is. For the generous and luxuriously equipped apartments are primarily aimed at expats; in other words managers from all over the world who are spending a limited period of time in one place because of work. The fact that managers have so little time is the very reason why Lars Hinrichs wants to make their life as comfortable as possible. A smartphone and a couple of apps are all that is needed to gain keyless entry through the front door, meaning the cleaning lady can also be let in remotely, with the log then recording when she leaves again. Optimal control? Lars Hinrichs likes to call it «transparency». But Hinrichs is not only planning technical ingenuities such as heat and light control or running the bathwater and switching on the coffee machine on demand, he also wants to save his tenants the stress of concluding contracts, always a necessary evil when moving into an apartment. Even trips to the post office are spared; DHL will operate a packstation in the building. In the words of Hinrichs, «That is why instead of residential space in square metres, I offer quality of life in cubic metres.»

This total comfort package naturally has its price. Monthly rents range from the gross salary of an average earner right through to five-figure amounts. In addition to the ambitiously orchestrated technology, future residents can also enjoy the superlative furnishings. The open plan apartments feature high-quality, light oak parquet flooring throughout, while the internal-facing bathrooms are in anthracite grey to black. The kitchens all have polished surfaces, as do the fitted wardrobes in the dressing rooms. 

Lars Hinrichs has travelled a lot across the globe and was always annoyed with hotel rooms that he saw were badly organised as soon as he came through the door. All these experiences have subsequently flowed into the house design, with a result that is truly impressive.