Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg

The Harvestehuder Weg eleven building stands out for its high, arched windows and the grand, neoclassical facade that faces the Alster. Originally built in eighteen sixty-two as a private villa for the banker Ernst Merk, it housed one of the wealthiest families in Hamburg. After the second world war, the city converted the residence into a home for musical education. You can still see the original ballroom, which now serves as a rehearsal space for orchestral students and chamber music recitals.