The Berlin-Neukölln district authority commissioned ZRS Architekten Ingenieure to refurbish two identical sports halls of the early 1970s, on Efeuweg and Buckower Damm. Initially, only the surfaces were to be renewed. The discovery of numerous hazardous substances, however, called for a full gut refurbishment at the very least. Comparing gutting and refurbishing with demolition and new construction showed that retaining the existing structure offered ecological as well as economic advantages.
The standard-type buildings are approx. 47 m long and 36 m wide and contain two halls arranged one above the other: a three-court hall of approx. 900 m² above a two-court hall of approx. 600 m². A further layer of insulation at upper floor level brings the facade up to the energy standard for new buildings. The plinth is designed as a ventilated curtain wall with timber slats, and in the annexe the external walls were replaced entirely with timber post structures. New lifts give barrier-free access to the upper halls, while the lower halls are reached by spectators via the gallery; both buildings were also fitted with wheelchair-accessible WCs.
The life cycle assessment confirms the benefit of retention: the global warming potential of the refurbishment variant is around 30 % below that of a conventional new building, 7.0 compared with 10.8 kg CO₂ equivalent per m² of net floor area per year. Natural materials such as timber and linoleum were used for the interior fit-out and installed to be dismantled again wherever possible; mineral insulation with a high mass further improves protection against summer overheating.
Colour accents on the windows and doors identify the buildings as sports halls in a school setting, red-orange on Efeuweg and emerald green on Buckower Damm, continuing through into the interiors. The halls are used by pupils from Leonardo-da-Vinci-Schule, Gemeinschaftsschule Campus Efeuweg and Kepler-Schule, as well as by sports clubs such as ALBA Berlin.
