Altona

With proud roots in Hamburg, Altona (Demo) is a bold, distinctive and cosmopolitan display typeface inspired by the original street signs of the Altona district.

Altona is a bold character – clearly constructed, yet unconventionally playful. Delicately engineered with an unpolished charm, Altona is a display typeface with perfect craftsmanship and a mind of its own.

At the end of the 1920s, constructivism was in vogue. Contemporary typefaces and lettering not only reflected the familiar, they used geometry to explore new forms. Reflecting a desire for renewal and a prelude to modernism, they were a perfect fit for the generous social housing plans of the growing and modernising Hamburg district of Altona.

An interpretation of the district’s street signs, Altona’s defined by its angular counters, the slightly curved vertical serifs in letters like C, the distinctive leg in the k, and its stubborn t. The absence of diagonals and the emphasis on verticals in letters such as M, W, X, and Y also make Altona particularly distinctive.

Altona’s extensive set of 160 icons are also inspired by Hamburg’s district, and 60 of them directly relate to its history. They illustrate the city’s famous landmarks, different types of ships and means of transport, and offer a range of maritime and Hanseatic symbols, such as a Franzbrötchen.

Altona is robustly drawn and adaptable to all media. Whether a three-dimensional shop sign milled in metal, a metropolitan history museum or a future-facing engineering officer: Altona is the typeface for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd with an unmistakable charm.

Designer: Albert-Jan Pool, Julia Uplegger, Antonia Cornelius
Foundry: TypeMates