The chimneys in Krayenkamp often attract the attention of visitors to the alley. They are made of brick, but twisted. This shape was common in Hamburg until the 19th century, but most people are no longer familiar with it today.
It is not possible to say with absolute certainty what function the special shape fulfills. Some suggest that it prevents heat from escaping from the house so quickly. Others on the other hand say that it prevents wind from entering the building so easily. So both have to do with preventing the house from cooling down too quickly. In his book, Reinhold Pabel quotes a master chimney sweeper who is of the opinion that the spiral duct is more effective at extracting smoke and fumes from the open hearth fire. The twisted shape reduces air resistance and the wind has a suction effect due to the twist. In addition, fire safety is increased by the fact that flying sparks are less dangerous due to the longer path.
In 1974, the chimneys in the alley were restored because they were in poor condition. As a result, only the chimney in house c, where the museum apartment is located, still has a connection to the fireplace. The chimneys therefore had to be anchored by a steel construction in order to remain safely on the roofs.
