Architects

Behnisch Architekturbüro

Landscape Architects

Lichtgrün Landschaftsarchitektur
Linzer Straße 13
D–93055 Regensburg

Client & Operator

das Stadtwerk.Bäder und Arenen GmbH
Greflingerstraße 26
D–93055 Regensburg

When former military sites turn into vibrant urban districts, they need places that create identity. In Regensburg's eastern district, this role falls to Sportpark Ost. On the grounds of the former Prinz-Leopold-Kaserne, a new center for swimming and athletics has emerged, one that also serves as a public meeting point and spatial anchor for the new neighborhood. As early as 2019, the design by Behnisch Architekten convinced the jury in a competition and was awarded first prize. After around three years of construction, the facility was completed in 2025.

Rather than a single monolithic structure, the architects deliberately opted for two independent volumes: an athletics hall and an indoor swimming pool. Each has its own architectural character, and the two are linked by a transparent, two-story foyer. This serves as far more than mere circulation space, it acts as a distributor, a place to linger, and the social heart of the entire facility. Dining areas and terraces open onto the forecourt, creating fluid transitions between interior and exterior space.

The differing uses are consistently reflected in the choice of materials and spatial character.

The athletics hall presents itself as a generous, column-free training space. Spans of up to 65 meters allow maximum flexibility for training operations. Large-format skylights provide even daylight, while the yellow sports floor reflects the natural light, creating a bright, warm atmosphere. Darker wall surfaces reduce the perceived ceiling height, while the white roof structure emphasizes the lightness of the load-bearing frame.

The swimming hall is a different story entirely. Here, generous glazing and views into the greenery define the spatial impression. Exposed timber trusses, light green tones around the pools, and wave-shaped acoustic elements create a calm, almost landscape-like atmosphere. The color and material design deliberately references the outdoor space, uniting building and landscape into a single design concept.

Across roughly 630 m² of water surface, the indoor pool offers a 25-meter lap pool, a non-swimmer pool with a movable floor, a teaching pool, and an athletes' sauna with a plunge pool. All pools were executed in stainless steel, a decision made in favor of durability, hygiene, and consistently low maintenance requirements.

The outdoor facilities by Lichtgrün Landschaftsarchitektur are far more than access areas. They form the actual starting point of the sports park and link the building to its future neighborhood.

A generous, traffic-free forecourt organizes visitor arrival. Barrier-free paths, bicycle parking, and a tactile guidance system ensure intuitive use for a wide range of visitors. At the same time, raised "green islands" structure the square. They guide visitor flows, create shaded areas to linger, and integrate seating into the planting.

Particular attention was paid to the ecological quality of the outdoor spaces. Native trees, perennials, grasses, and flowering plants, together with stone mounds for lizards and nesting wood for insects, create valuable habitats. A parkour area further expands the offering with a freely usable exercise space for the neighborhood. This makes the sports park not just a sports facility, but a public open space.

Sportpark Ost does not pursue sustainability through isolated measures, but as a consistent planning strategy throughout.

The project uses timber structures, prefabricated timber facades, and recycled concrete from the demolition of the former barracks buildings opposite. This closed regional material cycles while creating durable, easily separable constructions. Flexible floor plans also allow for future changes in use.

The project also sets standards in terms of energy. Around 45 percent of annual heating demand is generated through solar thermal energy. The large-scale solar collectors span the parking areas, simultaneously providing shade. The system is complemented by a wood chip boiler, a 500 m³ heat storage tank, and photovoltaic systems on the roof surfaces. Highly efficient ventilation systems with heat recovery, a highly insulated building envelope, and energy-optimized building technology further reduce ongoing energy demand.

What you'll learn here:

Sportpark Ost Regensburg shows that good sports facilities are not created by good architecture alone. What matters is the interplay of all planning disciplines and the contracting companies involved. Architecture, landscape architecture, and technical specialist planning were developed together from the outset here and interlock with one another. As a result, the outdoor facilities, the building, and the technical systems don't read as separate building blocks, but as a coherent overall concept.

It also becomes clear what a difference dedicated planners can make. Behnisch Architekten and the specialist planners involved did not place their respective areas of expertise side by side, but wove them together. The result is a sports park that goes far beyond its actual function, offering long-term added value to both sport and urban development.