The planned “Place of Reflection for Sexual and Gender Diversity” at Hamburg’s Binnenalster, also known as the “Pavilion of Voices,” will be finished much later than originally projected. As the weekly newspaper Die Zeit reported, construction at the designated site on the corner of Lombardsbrücke and Neuer Jungfernstieg has not yet begun — even though the Culture Authority previously indicated a start in 2025 and a completion in 2026 the year before.
According to the agency, the pavilion designed by artist Olafur Eliasson is not merely a piece of art but a complex public-space project. It requires extensive coordination with various authorities and departments, including permissions, historic preservation, accessibility, infrastructure, lighting and sound systems, as well as the landscape planning for the site. This process has demanded more time than initially anticipated, Die Zeit quotes a spokeswoman for the Culture Authority as saying.
With the delay comes a cost increase. The Hamburg parliament originally approved 414,000 euros for planning and implementing the memorial site. As things stand, the project is expected to run five to ten percent over budget, attributed to the general rise in costs for construction projects. The extra costs will be borne by the Culture Authority.
According to Die Zeit, the new schedule calls for a construction start next spring, with completion anticipated in early summer 2027. This would place the pavilion on track to possibly open in time for Hamburg Pride Week 2027.
