Authors: Dr Jutta Katthage, Torge Hauschild
The modernisation of the Möllner Landstrasse Sports Facility in Hamburg shows how sports infrastructure can also become climate resilient at the same time. As part of the Active City Strategy, the facility was designed to absorb up to 500 cubic metres of water during heavy rainfall and allow it to seep away into the ground. The project is regarded as an example of multi-purpose sports facilities that offer far more than just sport. Torge Hauschild from the Department of District Sports Facility Development of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg explains why this practical example serves as a model for sustainable urban development.
© Naumann Landschaft
The modernisation of urban sports infrastructure has become a major priority in recent years, and not just in Hamburg. Many factors are driving this need for modernisation. Foremost among these is undoubtedly the competition for available space, coupled with a steadily rising number of users. Furthermore, through its Active City Strategy, Hamburg aims to encourage the city’s population as a whole – and not just sports club members – to become more active.
Other factors, such as the quantity and quality of open space, the shift towards multifunctional sports infrastructure (rather than highly specialised facilities), and improvements in efficiency in terms of both sports-related and land-use functions, also have a powerful effect on the modernisation approach and its specific manifestation.
