The modern car park
The art of building parking Underground or surface car park design has changed a lot in recent years. They have gone from being elements that fit the vehicles in a systematic way regardless of aesthetics or the structure itself, to elements that are becoming true architectural icons of cities where it is no longer only visited by that "desperate" driver who needs to park his car. vehicle, other functionalities and capacities have appeared in addition to becoming tourist elements of almost obligatory visit.
In this article we want to review some of the examples of car parks subways that with their design and originality have transformed a small portion of the city's urban infrastructure. New aptitudes and abilities that historically have not been contemplated and that now even attract the citizen in search of new sensations.
Architects wanting to surprise are creating models of buildings for cars that shine in cities, that improve our day-to-day life, that allow us the most comfortable way to park, that help to manage parking lots and car parks in a simple and modern way, are the new «underground super-garages» in cities modern, where new materials, designs and technologies are mixed with good work.
A semi-park with natural light
We start with a garage building whose skeleton wooden façade and clever design perfectly conceals its purpose, as well as being architecturally interesting.
We have to move to Brussels (Belgium) to enjoy a car park building created by the architecture studios Modulo Architects and De Jong Gortemaker Algra Architects. An industrial and functional structure capable of housing 980 parking spaces, which undoubtedly incorporates natural light in abundance, natural materials and a ravishingly striking appearance.
The shell of the building is formed by a structure of vertical wooden beams positioned in the form of waves, simulating the natural canyons created by water. THE goal, to bet on natural light that not only reaches the upper floors (Two above ground level) but also provides natural light to the two underground floors by creating an intelligent separation between the basement floor envelope and the ground wall. . The result, an attractive building, well integrated and with added value for users.
The garage building with artistic facade
Art suits this vehicle parking building to show us an unforgettable and constantly moving facade. We have to move to Indianapolis (USA) to verify that the observer can also be surprised thanks to the expertise of the architect Rob Ley Studio.
A facade made up of 7000 metal panels arranged in various angles and measurements, and in various colors, providing the sensation of a living envelope before observers who experience a unique visual while on the move.
Intelligent architecture to clothe the modern car using perspective as a weapon to amaze. The color scheme is quite simple, where the West side received a deep blue color, while the East side received a more striking color, golden yellow. The angles, by themselves, in front of the passerby who is in motion, creates an illusion of different shades.
How to take advantage of the parking building
From Sweden and surely with a lot of love, they present us with a building to park vehicles take advantage of every corner of it to strengthen the useful link with public areas.
The Stadsberget project in the city of Pitea was designed by the architecture firm White Arkitekter, in cooperation with Henning Larsen Architects. It has become a tourist attraction in the city as well as a gathering place to enjoy the snow.
A garage which has a parking capacity of 228 spaces housed over 5 floors. Thanks to the adaptation of the building as a utility structure, it has been possible to ensure that the roof, as well as the access ramp to it, is used all year round.
In summer, it is used as a popular meeting place where different types of vegetation are housed and a stepped ramp is designed as an amphitheater to enjoy the Sun or different events. And in winter, when the snow falls, it becomes a small ski slope to the delight of adults and children. Utility to the maximum for the enjoyment of all!
In search of parking with pleasure
In Spain we also have underground car parks and quality to take care of our vehicle, a little hidden, but there they are. Some search engines such as www.empark.com/es/es/parking/ help us in the task of finding the easiest garage space and even indicate the most comprehensive garages depending on the situation. Here, everyone has their tricks!… But the Internet is a world of opportunities to save us a few euros a month.
Those of us who are regulars to itunderground parking space for many years we have experienced more than one reform. Some more successful and others, of course, much less. Going from a decaying space to a space that attracts the user is a true art and not everyone can show off. In this reform carried out in Madrid on an underground car wash, they have succeeded!
First of all, we do not have all the solutions to evils, but the Burbucar project represents a memorable experience and of course, very worthy of the simple earthly act of cleaning the car.
A car wash reinvented to enjoy, where the sensations deceive the viewer and boredom does not exist if we follow the lines that run parallel to the cleaning of the car. 100 meters of pure sensory experience showing us a visual design that undoubtedly breaks with traditional aesthetics.
Who said cleaning the car is not fun!….
Parking adapted to the natural landscape
As a rule the surface parking they are a hard blow to the aesthetics of the environment and more so if we are facing the sea. The underground park located in Katwijk (Netherlands) facing the sea, it has dethroned this reality by concluding a project that honors a quality construction, well planned and with an integrating design worthy of several applause.
Project developed by the OKRA Landscape Architects team of architects whose primary objective was to respect the environment, protect the coast and maintain public space. They undoubtedly succeeded!
The underground parking has a capacity of 663 parking spaces hidden under some sand dunes along the coast. A structure that does not break the relationship between the town and the beach, nor does it form an architectural barrier. Certainly a great idea!
The strangest garage
If you thought you have seen everything in the world of architecture, you still have a long way to go!… Because this gigantic vending machine is used to stack vehicles in a great way. Unfortunately, it is a private car park that is used as a showroom for luxury vehicles, but that does not mean that the idea is a genius or a madness, depending on who looks at it.
We are talking about the Autobahn Motors (ABM) building located in the multicultural city of Singapore that has become an unavoidable meeting point for tourists. 15 floors illuminate the city's dusk, showing us that technology can be adapted to multiple situations.
We must remember that we are not only talking about an iconic building, but also an alternative to the serious parking and parking problems that many cities suffer. In fact, the mechanized system has been patented with the prospect of promoting it to the public level. (We can see more from the article on the gigantic luxury car vending machine)
The minimalist parking
From Germany they offer us another of those projects where pure lines and simplicity deceive the viewer. A multi-storey car park with around 500 parking spaces, in this case it is from a private company designed by the Birk Heilmeyer and Frenzel Architekten architecture studio.
Two blocks in the shape of a rectangle in the minimalist and monolithic style make up the whole of the building whose skin is lined with wood based on vertical slats. The complex has a majestic parking gate fully mechanized and foldable, camouflaged with the building and undoubtedly represents an important part of the structure.
A project that, although it was executed a few years ago, certainly represents a good starting point to understand that not only conventional buildings can be beautiful architectural elements.
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