A natural history museum for Hamburg – independent of the Elbtower

The scientific and spatial requirements for such a museum have been defined, various options have already been examined, and the spatial concept that has been developed can be adapted to suit different locations. This provides a clear basis for the further planning of the new natural history museum in collaboration with the city.

LIB Director General Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Bernhard Misof explains why this project represents a major opportunity for Hamburg and why it should be considered in the broader context, rather than in relation to a single property, in a guest article published in the Hamburger Abendblatt on 24 August 2026.

Guest article by Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Bernhard Misof

A natural history museum in Hamburg is not a luxury, but a necessity for science, for education and for the future of our society. Yet the current debate risks narrowing down to the question of the Elbtower’s future. This, however, has nothing to do with the research museum’s mandate.

There are certainly options in Hamburg that meet the requirements of a modern research museum, such as the reactivation of former DESY sites, the use of building plots in HafenCity, or other suitable existing properties. Various options have already been examined and evaluated by the city and the Leibniz Institute.

This review is not a sign of uncertainty, but of responsibility. It has shown us that the spatial concept for the new Natural History Museum can work across several different sites. The City of Hamburg does not need to be caught up in a difficult property development project in order to secure an outstanding Natural History Museum and to expand its scientific and social expertise for shaping a sustainable future.

The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) houses around 16 million specimens, of which approximately 10 million are held in Hamburg. These specimens are not a static legacy, but a living knowledge infrastructure. They form the basis for world-leading international research focusing on the biodiversity crisis, climate change and the interactions between humans and nature, as well as for strategies to overcome these life-threatening crises. The scorching summer we have just experienced has shown us just how threatening these crises are.

This research requires suitable facilities: modern laboratories, climate-controlled collection storage areas, and workspaces for researchers from all over the world. These requirements are independent of any specific construction project. They are defined by professional standards and must be central to every decision regarding the choice of location.

A new natural history museum will not be solely for scientific purposes. It will be a place for people to meet, learn and find inspiration. With up to 500,000 expected visitors a year, it would be a major cultural and tourist attraction, regardless of whether it is built in HafenCity or at another central location.

In times of climate crisis and species extinction, our society needs places where complex interrelationships are explained in an accessible way, where knowledge to tackle these challenges is shared, and where dialogue takes place. The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change will do precisely that: make knowledge accessible, spark curiosity and jointly develop options for action. In view of the extreme environmental changes that we are now experiencing and witnessing first-hand, this is more important than ever.

The LIB will take responsibility for the museum’s operations – including research, collections, exhibitions and education. However, the cost of a building represents an investment by society as a whole in Hamburg’s cultural and scientific infrastructure. These two aspects should be considered separately to enable an objective decision to be made.

I know that the Senate and the members of the Hamburg Parliament regard the new Natural History Museum as an independent, forward-looking project and not as an appendage to a property development. Let us work together to determine which site best meets the scientific requirements, societal expectations and economic possibilities.

As I said, a natural history museum in Hamburg is not a luxury, but a necessity for science, for education and for the future of our society.

Hamburg has the opportunity to create a natural history museum and set international standards. Let us seize this opportunity; let us not allow it to fail because of a single property. Let us continue to pave the way for such a project together – boldly, objectively and with a sense of responsibility towards future generations.