Transforms former tax office into sustainable urban workspace hub.
Neues Amt Altona eG (NAA) is a cooperative development project in Hamburg's Altona district that transformed a former tax office into a sustainable urban workspace hub. Founded in December 2019 by seven founding members including Robert Beddies, Hans von Bülow, Julian Meisen, and Cornelius Voss, the cooperative has grown to nearly 150 members. Initiated by Common Agency and betahaus Hamburg, the project was selected by the city in 2019 for implementation. NAA aims to preserve affordable creative spaces by securing existing rents in the old building for at least twenty years while extending it with a new cooperative coworking building. The development includes multiple components: a public ground floor spanning 700 square meters for gastronomy, culture, and events; a central courtyard connecting Neue Große Bergstraße and Große Bergstraße; preserved upper floors of the original building housing creative businesses across 3,400 square meters; and a new timber-constructed building designed for approximately 300 daily workers across four floors. What distinguishes NAA is its ownership model, where members acquire rights to workplaces rather than square meters, preventing real estate speculation. The Hamburg Social Authority has joined the cooperative to create a "House of Engagement" for nonprofit organizations, occupying one entire floor at reduced costs. The completion of the new building was scheduled for 2024, with the foundation stone laid in February 2025. Located between two main streets in one of Hamburg's most diverse neighborhoods, NAA represents a progressive model for sustainable urban development.