The old warehouse / Der Alter Speicher

I was shocked and saddened to see that the iconic old granary in Greifswald harbour started to be demolished today.

Admittedly it is dilapidated, more eerie than beautiful, and since I discovered it was built in 1937, I can’t help thinking its architecture has an uncomfortable National Socialist feel. Its low ceilings, small windows, and concrete silo interior would also make restoration and development a challenge.

But it’s still a shame that this symbol of Greifswald’s history as a Hanse trading port is being lost. Apparently it is listed, but a Berlin-based developer is still being permitted to pull it down, amid rumblings about financial deals and local politics.

If it’s too late to save it, I hope at least that something equally striking can take its place, though early designs for a generic glass and steel ‘conference hotel’ look pretty underwhelming.

Who knows, maybe local decision-makers may still reflect on the fact the building is referred to here as a Speicher, literally “storage” - a word which also, fittingly, translates as “memory”.