Fussballakademie RB Leipzig
The Context
The Fussballakademie RB Leipzig (2013) is located east of the Elster river basin, in a wide clearing within a pasture-like landscape. The site is framed by football fields and a public square referred to as the “marketplace,” creating a lively context where sports and community meet.
The project had to integrate a training center with boarding school into this open setting while reinforcing the relationship between landscape and urban edge. The design responds in stages, beginning with a low plinth that grounds the complex and defines a boundary with the square, without the need for fencing.
The project was developed in collaboration with Berger+Parkkinen.
The Concept
The plinth houses training, therapy, and technical facilities, providing a solid base for the academy. Above it, the main volume appears as a floating rectangular form, slightly set back to emphasize its lightness.
This hovering structure defines the urban edge along Cottaweg to the south while allowing the surrounding landscape to flow visually through the building. Its openness establishes a balance between enclosure and permeability, ensuring that the academy is embedded naturally in its setting.
The Project
Spaces and Atmosphere
The ground floor is entirely open and transparent, conceived as a place for meeting and communication. It functions as the social nucleus of the academy, encouraging exchange among young athletes, staff, and visitors. The design reflects the values of teamwork and community central to a training center and boarding school.
Architectural Expression
By combining a solid plinth with a light, floating volume above, the building achieves a striking presence that is both protective and welcoming. The transparent design creates continuity between interior and exterior, reinforcing the academy’s identity as a communal and inviting environment for education, training, and social life.
