In school and sports clubs, countless students and athletes spend hours each day in sports halls. Whether for competitive or recreational purposes, this shared space shapes how we live together. Sport teaches essential values—fairness, tolerance, and respect—while fostering cultural integration and laying the groundwork for healthy living across all age groups. These principles informed every decision in the complete renovation of the Käthe Kollwitz Comprehensive School's sports hall in Leverkusen-Rheindorf. The Cologne-based architectural firm Kastner Pichler + Partner embraced a holistic approach, balancing spatial efficiency and flexible use with thoughtful integration into the community, public accessibility, and engaging outdoor spaces.

The aging exposed concrete structure from the 1970s underwent a fundamental transformation: to enhance energy efficiency, the interior was completely gutted and fitted with entirely new façades and roof surfaces. The new façade features rear-ventilated, folded aluminium panels with 160 mm of rock wool insulation. Its warm pearl copper tone echoes the school building's existing colour palette and the red brick residential development nearby—creating visual continuity throughout the neighbourhood. The renovated canopy, with its delicate aluminium slats, respects the scale of adjacent housing while the new extensions maintain this careful proportion. The central entrance particularly conveys openness and accessibility through translucent façade sections. Inside, the transparent foyer comes alive with backlit silhouettes projected onto the glass—a playful touch that welcomes visitors. A separate external staircase serves the changing rooms, while a prominent central staircase in the foyer guides visitors to the viewing stands.

Interior finishes and acoustically designed wood panelling complement the façade's warm palette. Combined with suspended ceilings, they deliver optimal acoustics throughout the hall—complete with induction loops for hearing-impaired visitors. The ventilation system's highly efficient heat recovery meets A+ standards: even at −12°C outside, it maintains a supply air temperature of 15.6°C without additional heating. Summer cooling relies on an adiabatic system that evaporates water within the air stream, converting liquid to gas and drawing heat from the indoor air—noticeably cooling the space with minimal energy input.

www.kastnerpichler.de

Photography Credits:

Mia Ter Horst

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 4|22)