Old trails lead the way to the entrance of this former leather factory in Hamburg Ottensen. Walking through a big glass door you find yourself in a hallway bathed in light, where the friendly reception staff is happy to help you out. Werkheim is not only the first and biggest coworking space in Hamburg, but it is also one of the biggest in Germany. There are about 123 freelancers and startups working alongside each other in the 1.780 square meter space.

About half of them work in the open space, and the other half is spread out amongst 14 team offices that can hold between 2 to 9 people. Additionally, they offer 4 conference rooms for the users and a bistro, which offers coffee and snacks for coworkers and visitors alike. The bistro is very popular among the smokers in the house, since you’re allowed to light up inside, preventing you from getting frostbite on your fingers during the harsh German winters.

They do have four walls, but due to the enormous height of the old factory ceilings, they are open on top, allowing you to see inside from the top floor. The open area on the ground floor was designed in a flexible way, so it can be converted into an event space for up to 100 people in about half an hour! Talk about efficiency.

The founders also started a little side-project called “Werkheim Unplugged”, offering a platform for singers and songwriters to share their music on what they call “Hamburg’s smallest stage.”

Companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, WWF, Henkel and Carlsberg (just to name a few) also use this space for different occasions. So who know whom you can bump into...