Hamburg is set to receive a new opera house in the HafenCity, thanks to a deal between the city and the Kühne Foundation.

Billionaire Klaus-Michael Kühne has pledged up to €330 million for the project, with the city providing the land and infrastructure.

While some hail this as a generous cultural gift, critics warn of potential cost overruns and question the lack of transparency in planning.

Concerns also arise over the future of the historic Staatsoper building and its maintenance costs.

Additionally, some argue the HafenCity site could better serve as a memorial for Hamburg’s colonial and Nazi-era history.

The debate highlights tensions between cultural ambition and historical responsibility.