Sportpark Ost Regensburg

The site, located on the grounds of the former Prinz Leopold Kaserne, is defined by its unique position between the city center, commercial buildings, a railway line, and existing sports facilities. We see this complex urban context as an opportunity to create open and welcoming architecture that integrates naturally into its surroundings while also taking future developments in the district into account. The design features two distinct buildings: a  flexibly usable athletics hall along Zeißstraße and a swimming pool located in the northern part of the site. These are connected by a bright, spacious entrance hall that forms the communicative heart of the complex. A publicly accessible restaurant is also integrated into this central space.

A generous forecourt with trees and views toward the adjacent biotope invites visitors to linger and marks the beginning of the Sportpark. The building’s clear internal layout allows for intuitive orientation, with all programmatic areas such as sports, swimming, dining, and administration, efficiently connected and designed to share spatial resources. Large skylights in the athletics hall provide uniform daylight from above, while carefully selected light materials enhance natural illumination and create a pleasant indoor atmosphere. Generous windows in the swimming hall frame focused views of the surrounding greenery, with the natural colors reflected in the interior design concept.

Both building components follow a consistent and sustainable approach to construction and materials, based on a high degree of prefabrication. Materials were selected according to their specific properties. The athletics hall features a long-span steel structure, due to its efficient load-bearing performance and minimal construction height. The swimming hall requires shorter spans and is built with a timber structure. This renewable material supports the project’s environmental commitment. The façades are made of prefabricated timber frame walls. All concrete used is made entirely from recycled material, sourced from the demolition of nearby military buildings, thereby contributing to the closure of regional material cycles.

An integrated energy and climate strategy reinforces the project’s sustainable goals. Highly insulated façades, energy-efficient glazing, and natural rainwater infiltration reduce both energy demand and resource consumption. To enable carbon neutral heating, solar thermal modules were installed above the parking areas. The heat they generate is stored in a central thermal storage system, using water as the storage medium, and supplies the swimming pool. Additionally, the roofs are equipped with photovoltaic modules. Efficient ventilation systems with heat recovery ensure high indoor air quality with low energy input. The athletics hall is entirely naturally ventilated. This results in a vibrant and forward-looking place for movement, community, and inclusion, open to all and located at the heart of the new eastern part of Regensburg.