Categoy D: Complex indoor centres for sports, leisure and recreation
BRONZE MEDAL Lentpark
Cologne, Germany KölnBäder‘s new ice and swimming stadium Lentpark accommodates two ice rinks, an indoor swimming centre with a variety of pools, a sauna, an outdoor natural water swimming pond and a restaurant. An elevated ice skating track runs as a round circuit through every part of the building providing exciting views inside and outside. An intelligent cross-linking of the building services allows for the seemingly contradictory climatic requirements of an ice and swimming facility to operate in an energy-efficient manner. On the north-west side lies the 1,800 square metre ice rink. On the south-east side the lap pool and recreational pools can be found. The entrance hall is centrally located and functions to divide the building’s main elements: water and ice. All areas combine a gross floor area of 12,000 square metres. The park-like landscaped outdoor area offers a natural water pool as well as a relaxation area. A primary attraction is the 260-metre-long elevated ice skating track that lies above the ice hockey rink and is visually connected to the swimming area. A highly insulated glass façade serves to divide the ice track and the swimming area climatically. The jury stated: “An ice skating track on the upper level embraces a swimming pool and ice hockey rink at the lower level. The jury very much liked this ingenious design idea and praised the client’s and also the architect’s braveness to offer this new kind of combined sports and leisure facility to the citizens of Cologne. The attractiveness of their approach is proven by the high number of users from the very beginning. The horizontal structured façades underline the building’s claim to be a dynamic and sporty place.”
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sb 5/2013