Anna
Resei

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I’m based in Hamburg, Germany although I‘m originally from Austria. My Studio is currently based in Rothenburgsort, the more industrial part of Hamburg. The apartment I‘m living in is located just between the hip Schanzeviertel and St.Pauli.

Where is your studio & how does it look?

My studio is located in Hammerbrook, a more industrial area of Hamburg. It’s on the second floor of a former office building and I’m sharing it with 10 other creative minds, although each of us has approximately 35 m² of individual studio space. We share a large hallway and a cozy kitchen/common room area. My space is equipped with a desk and at the back there’s a workstation with several hand tools and material storage. I really enjoy working in my studio, as it has two large windows facing a magnificent chestnut tree.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you – whether recently completed or currently in progress?

I’m currently collaborating with Arte Veneziana, a company based in Venice, Italy, renowned for its exceptional glasswork, on two mirrors that will be presented in September during the 5th edition of the Venice Design Biennale. Alongside the premiere of the mirrors, there will also be a publication of my first monograph, published by IN Residence in Turin and presented in Venice as well.

Do you have a favorite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

The recently reopened and planted „Feldstrassen Bunker“ from the 2nd WW offers a wide view on Hamburg. You can watch the beautiful sunset and relax under various trees high above the city. Also the close by park “Planten und Blomen” is a spot where you can find me after work just relaxing and reading.

From my studio on my bike I‘m very fast at Entenwerder1 which is a lovely and colorful coffee spot on a boat on the Elbe surrounded by nature.

If there is Schitwetter as the locals say, I’m hanging out at “Freiraum” inside the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (MK&G Hamburg) which is a free space to sit, work, read or just relax. I really like the welcoming atmosphere there.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

Rising rents and real estate prices are pushing locals out of popular districts like Sternschanze, Altona, and St. Pauli. Despite housing projects, demand still outpaces supply, especially for low- and middle-income families.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years – and what has not?

Hamburg has seen a lot of changes over the last five years, and it’s definitely a city that keeps evolving. There’s been a big push for bike infrastructure — more bike lanes, bike-sharing programs, and car-free zones in the inner city. As a cyclist I still think there could be more done if one looks at cities like Amsterdam or Copenhagen.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers – whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

The clothing brand OMEN by Thomas | Punkt. All their knitwear is produced locally and made from wool in Hamburg.

Studio Julika Hartz produces beautiful silver jewellery and offers courses to dive into the craft of jewelry making.

Marie Ballhause Keramik crafts beautiful, monochrome ceramic table ware –  and also offers wheel throwing courses.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

The Port of Hamburg is like a living lab for smart logistics and is Europe’s third-largest container port. It’s basically a tech and logistics playground, blending tradition with cutting-edge innovation. Hamburg has created a fully digitized model of the port — a “digital twin” — that mirrors real-time ship movements, cargo flows, and infrastructure conditions. This allows for better planning, predictive maintenance, and congestion reduction. It’s like SimCity, but real — and used by engineers, port authorities, and logistics companies.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

The best Pizza in town was Slim Jim’s, which unfortunately closed at the end of last year. Otherwise, I would share Marend with you. When I miss typical Austrian cuisine in Hamburg, I go there. Simply delicious spinach dumplings.

And of course Happenpappen for lunch (dinner as well) which is just around the corner of my apartment : )

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

Mutterland is a shop for locally produced food from Germany, with physical shops in Hamburg only, as far as I know. They also serve food and their coffee and sandwiches are very delicious. They have an online shop as well.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

  – Komoot for cycling tours

  – The New Yorker for literature tips

  – Instagram, sadly need it for my design practice

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

– The New Yorker

– The Guardian

– Zeit podcast: “Die sogenannte Gegenwart“

– Deutschland Funk Kultur – “Der Tag” podcast

Imagine you could be mayor for a year – what would you change?

As Mayor of Hamburg for a year – my mission is clear: I want to open up space for ideas. Hamburg is rich in talent, but we need more affordable, accessible and inspiring places where creativity can thrive — whether it’s for artists, designers, makers, musicians, or entrepreneurs. There are many underused buildings and an ease in bureaucracy for cultural projects would help too.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live – regardless of financial or time constrains – which one would you choose?

Due to a project I have just spend one month in the mountain region of Portugal working with local textile manufacturers. Therefore I came to understand and love Portugese culture better. I’d definitely choose Porto as a city to work and live in, if I could.