The grounds of the former Aschberg open-air swimming pool in the Hamm-Süd district are to be redesigned as part of the residential development west of Hamburg’s Rückerskanal. Together with sports fields belonging to local clubs, a modern neighborhood sports center is to be built that will offer locals a place to hang out and exercise. This new hub for sports and a wide range of other activities will serve as a focal point for the neighborhood, fostering a sense of local identity. With a diverse range of activities on offer, the center will act as a magnet, drawing users from well beyond Hamburg’s city limits. In 2020, Hamburg-Mitte’s Office for Urban and Landscape Planning and Bäderland Hamburg GmbH organized a workshop process to decide upon a new structure. Their goal was a functional, high-quality building for the planned neighborhood sports center that would serve as a core component of the urban redevelopment project.

The heart and center of this new facility is a swimming pool. This is supplemented by a kindergarten promoting physical activity, a club house, a youth center, a single-field sports hall, a food services area, and a neighborhood garage in the form of a “mobility hub”—all of which are integrated under one roof. The differentiated formulation of the structure’s shell and its cambering toward Diagonalstrasse to the west give added symbolism to the building, reinforcing the striking impression it creates and asserting its status as a local landmark. Toward the sports facilities to the east, the building is more reserved; its terrace-like, almost landscaped appearance communicates a pleasant sense of scale while highlighting the many possibilities offered by the numerous roof areas.

The active use of the roof areas for games, sports, or urban gardening and the synergies arising from these overlapping functions are an essential aspect of the idea behind the design. The indispensable ball catch net will be incorporated into the overarching design concept and is an integral part of the entire facility in terms of both function and appearance. The neighborhood sports center Am Aschberg has been conceived as a welcoming place for people to meet that can attract athletes, youths, sports clubs, and anyone with vision and a sense of adventure who relishes physical activity, bringing them together in one place and offering them a space to communicate and exchange ideas.