The Außenmühle sports park in HH-Harburg
Sports ground was yesterday
Kilian + Colleagues Landscape Architects
The Außenmühle sports park in Hamburg-Harburg, which reopened in the summer of 2024, is the result of the exemplary transformation of a desolate dirt track into a sports center of social importance.
Kilian + Colleagues Landscape Architects
One for all
School sports, district league soccer, informal recreational sports and youth clubs at the table tennis table: the Außenmühle sports park in Hamburg-Harburg, which reopened in the summer of 2024, is the result of the exemplary transformation of a desolate dirt pitch into a sports center of social importance.
This is due to the far-sighted and multifaceted planning by Kilian + Kollegen Landschaftsarchitekten, the involvement of all user groups from the outset and the high-quality execution of all parts of the facility.
The Außenmühle sports pitch had been closed since October 2018. The pitch, which was already outdated, was constantly under water because the drainage system was no longer draining the water.
The large playing field was therefore converted into an artificial turf pitch with new drainage, and the equally dilapidated basket bow track was replaced by a 400 m synthetic running track.
The creation of new entrances, one of which is barrier-free, has also significantly improved the access situation.
Program
Of the total 27,000 m² area of the Außenmühle sports park, 10,000 m² is used for sports. These areas are available to clubs, the surrounding schools and recreational sports – and they are perfectly suited to today’s changing sports behavior.
This is most evident in the two curve segments, where traditional athletics fixtures have been deliberately omitted. Instead, new exercise options and cross-generational meeting points have been created, such as the calisthenics facility and the concrete elements for course runs in the east of the facility.
On the other hand, in the western segment, a small pitch for soccer and basketball was built, which is very popular with the youth teams of the clubs as well as for informal sports.
In the north-west, near the changing rooms, a beach volleyball court with hammocks, trampolines, a boules court that can also be used for shot-putting, table tennis tables and two new, digitally bookable SportBoxes have been created.
Everything versatile, everything flowing.
Core sports facility
Despite all these trendy new features, the classic offerings of the core sports facility, i.e. athletics and ball games, have been maintained and expanded. The main beneficiaries of this are the district league soccer teams based here, especially the new artificial turf pitch with markings for two youth pitches.
To ensure that all athletes can have fun here at the same time without being hit by flying balls, four-meter-high ball catch fences separate the pitch from the corner areas.
The former cinder running track was given a new synthetic surface in two identity-defining shades of blue with two 400 m running tracks and four 100 m sprint tracks. The long jump pit is located in the extension of the sprint tracks.
Together
The versatility of the Außenmühle sports park is also due to the decision of the planning office Kilian und Kollegen and the Harburg district authority as the client to involve all the departments, schools and sports clubs in the development of this exemplary project from the outset.
This also included more than 200 comments and suggestions that have been submitted in participation processes since spring 2020.
The project was financed with funds from the Integrated District Development Framework Program (RISE), the Ministry of the Interior and Sport, the Finance Authority and the Harburg district authority.
The total costs amounted to 4.1 million euros and construction took two years.
Users
The use of the facility is also exemplary and new in Hamburg: the facility is available for school sports until 2 p.m., in the afternoon, evening and on Saturday for the public and on Sunday for organized soccer matches.
What makes it special: Anyone can do sports there until late in the evening, something that has never been done before.
Conclusion
The Außenmühle sports park impresses with its togetherness, both in terms of planning and use.
The program and offers are versatile, multifunctional and future-oriented. They take into account and combine the wishes and needs of club, school and popular sports. The design comes from the top shelf, from the playing field surface to the running tracks and fixtures to the recreation areas.
In other words, the Außenmühle sports park is aware of the importance of sport for social cohesion – and it demonstrates planning knowledge of today’s demands on a sustainable sports facility.
Project data
Designer
Kilian + Kollegen Landschaftsarchitekten
Office for open space and sports facility planning
Theaterwall 24
D – 26122 Oldenburg
Building owner
Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Bezirksamt Hamburg-Mitte
Fachamt Bezirklicher Sportstättenbau
Caffamacherreihe 3
D – 20355 Hamburg
Opening
2024
Address
Sports ground Außenmühle
Vinzenzweg 20
D – 21077 Hamburg
Photos
Kilian + Kollegen Landscape Architects
Oliver Berkhausen
Text
Johannes Bühlbecker
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