There are still a few buildings used as warehouses for carpets, coffee, tea and spices. However the warehouse district that was once built up as a customs free area called Speicherstadt, nowadays houses mainly museums, restaurants and offices. In the last few years many creative agencies have been attracted by the charm of its red brick buildings, and have moved to this historical harbour, built around a series of narrow canals. It sits right next to the gleaming glass and steel of the modern HafenCity, Europe's largest urban renewal development project.