Platform on architecture, interior design and landscape architecture
RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing products has won the prestigious ‘Roof of the Year 2025’ award, presented by the Hungarian Roofers’ Association (ÉMSZ). The award was given in the synthetic roofing category and recognizes the innovative application of the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Design and Solar systems on the roof of the Kovács Katalin National Kayak-Canoe Academy in Sukoró.
The innovative systems not only provided a flexible and aesthetically pleasing solution for the undulating metal-look roof design, but also offered a brilliant alternative for mounting solar panels on the roof without perforating the roof membrane. The project’s success was primarily due to the excellent collaboration and extensive technical support provided by RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing products, which also led to this prestigious award.
The Hungarian Academy is a modern sports and recreation facility designed to host international kayaking and canoeing competitions, as well as rowing and open-water swimming events. The building is located on a natural lake, and its design is inspired by the flowing shapes of water waves. The academy is named after Katalin Kovács, an exceptionally successful athlete with multiple Olympic and world titles.
The project presented significant challenges to the parties involved. The architect wanted a roof with a metallic look, but at the same time, the material had to be flexible enough to conform to the complex, undulating design. In addition, solar panels had to be installed without damaging the roof waterproofing, which presented technical limitations. A solution was found by combining two systems from RENOLIT ALKORPLAN.
The RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Design system offered an aesthetic solution with a metallic look, while at the same time ensuring sufficient flexibility to create curved and sloped roof structures in all possible shapes. This made it possible to construct both simple and complex roof shapes without compromising on appearance. The RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system also played a crucial role in mounting the solar panels. This ultra-lightweight system makes it possible to install solar panels without any risk of damaging the roof waterproofing. As a result, the roof remains watertight. Furthermore, no additional heavy ballast is required, which reduces the load on the structure.
The convenience, reliability, and speed of installation—combined with the ease of maintaining or even replacing the solar panels—made RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar the perfect choice for the PVC-P plastic membranes used here, meeting both the aesthetic and functional requirements of the project.
In addition to the innovative products, the strong collaboration between the various partners was also crucial to the project’s success. Architectural firms Design Plan and Fényjel Stúdió handled the design, while West Hungária Bau and Lajtaszig brought the design vision to life. RENOLIT ALKORPLAN was closely involved throughout the entire process, from the very first consultations and design phase through to completion. The company provided extensive technical support through regular site visits and wind load calculations. Delivery schedules were also carefully tailored to the needs of both the factory and the contractors. At the contractor’s request, an 800 m² test installation was also set up to evaluate the solutions. This intensive support underscores RENOLIT ALKORPLAN’s role as a partner—and not merely as a supplier.
The annual ‘Roof of the Year’ award is considered a major event in Hungary’s roofing industry, where the most innovative projects are honored. According to Ferenc Szabo, Managing Director of RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Hungary, the award recognizes both the technical quality and aesthetic value of the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN systems, as well as the strong collaboration among all parties involved. The award-winning project demonstrates how innovation, sustainability, and collaboration can lead to a technically and visually impressive result.
