Celebrities in Blankenese: Who Lives (or Lived) Here
These celebrities lived in Blankenese: Hans Albers, Karl Lagerfeld, Helmut Schmidt, and many more. The famous residents of the Treppenviertel.
Annette
Editorial
Foto: Wikimedia Commons / Merlin Senger · CC BY-SA 3.0
Blankenese isn't only known for its picturesque staircases and views of the Elbe: the district has also long been a favorite address for celebrities, artists, and Hamburg high society. Anyone strolling through its winding lanes is walking in the footsteps of fashion icons, comedians, and business leaders.
Discretion is the top priority here. The tall hedges and wrought-iron gates protect residents' privacy. But a few stories have leaked out over the years.
Karl Lagerfeld: the fashion czar on the Elbe
Probably the most famous former resident of Blankenese was Karl Lagerfeld. The Hamburg-born fashion designer spent his childhood and youth in a villa on the Elbe slope before moving to Paris and becoming a legend of fashion.
The Lagerfelds belonged to upper-class Hamburg society; his father was a successful businessman in the condensed milk industry. Karl Lagerfeld himself spoke throughout his life of his Hamburg roots and the influence that Hanseatic restraint had on his style.
Did you know? Karl Lagerfeld once said of Hamburg: "The city shaped me. Hamburg's refinement is a particular kind: you don't show off what you have." This attitude was reflected throughout his entire body of work.
Otto Waalkes: the East Frisian in Blankenese
Germany's best known comedian, Otto Waalkes, also lived in Blankenese for a long time. Born in East Frisia, he valued the district's calm and its contrast to the bustle of his stage performances.
Neighbors knew him as a friendly, reserved person, quite different from his stage persona. Those with luck might run into him on his morning walk with his dog.
Hamburg's merchant class
Alongside the prominent names from culture and entertainment, Blankenese is above all home to Hamburg's traditional merchant class. Shipowners, bankers, and businessmen have been building their villas here since the 19th century.
Many of the historic houses remain in family hands today, passed down from generation to generation. Residents value the anonymity offered by the winding Treppenviertel, along with the fact that here, they're among their own kind.
Artists and creatives
The distinctive light on the Elbe slope, the Mediterranean-feeling lanes, and the inspiring atmosphere have drawn artists to Blankenese again and again. Painters, writers, and musicians found the peace they needed for their work here, along with the nearby big city of Hamburg.
The sculpture of "the Painter" on the Strandweg recalls this artistic tradition. It depicts an artist gazing out over the water, just as generations of creatives did before him.
Blankenese today
Even today Blankenese is one of Hamburg's most sought-after residential addresses, and priced accordingly. Property prices are among the highest in the city, and houses becoming available in the Treppenviertel are rare and highly coveted.
Anyone strolling through the lanes might run into a familiar face or two. But the people of Blankenese, famous or not, value their privacy. And that may be the greatest secret of this remarkable district.
