Ohlsdorf Cemetery water tower

The Ohlsdorf Cemetery water tower is a red brick structure that rises above the cemetery grounds, distinguishable from afar by its color and rows of windows. The building features clear architectural details from the late 1800s and is large enough to serve as a landmark visible from many parts of the 391-hectare grounds.

Construction of the tower took place in 1898 as the cemetery expanded and required modern infrastructure for its operations. This period marked a time of significant growth in Hamburg's northern district, with the tower becoming part of that broader development.

The tower was originally built to support the cemetery's operations and maintenance needs rather than for the surrounding city. This shows how large cemeteries functioned as self-contained communities with their own water and service systems.

The tower sits within the vast cemetery grounds and is easy to spot when walking around the site. Visitors can use it as a reference point for navigation or to get a sense of the cemetery's true size and layout.

The tower reveals that early 20th-century cemeteries functioned as self-sufficient places with complex systems similar to small towns. This approach to cemetery design influenced ideas about urban planning and public space organization during that era.