Schröderstift, Hamburg

Schröderstift is a residential complex made up of three wings designed by architect Albert Rosengarten with a total of 52 small apartments. Each unit contains two rooms and a kitchen arranged around a central marble chapel topped by a copper dome.

Built between 1851 and 1852 by Hamburg merchant Johann Heinrich Schröder, the complex was created to provide housing for single women facing financial hardship. The project arose from a desire to address pressing social needs of that era.

The chapel at the center now welcomes members of the Coptic Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox communities who gather there for prayer. The space shows how different faith traditions have found a home within this 19th-century building.

The complex has been run through resident self-management since 1981 as a registered association operating autonomously. When visiting, remember that this is a residential community, so courtesy toward current residents is essential.

The marble chapel at the center acts as a surprising symmetrical anchor point that immediately draws attention. Its copper dome is prominently visible from the surroundings and stands out as an unexpected architectural feature within a residential area.