Most parking facilities are eyesores, designed with function in mind without paying heed to context or aesthetics. But in some cases, parking garages can be so innovative, high-tech, bright and – yes - even beautiful, that they’re notable works of architecture in and of themselves.
1. Detroit’s Michigan Theatre
Built in 1926 alongside the connected 13-story Michigan Building office tower, the 4,000-seat Michigan Theatre was once the jewel of Detroit, described as the world’s finest theatre. But by the mid-1960s, it closed, partially due to a lack of parking - ironic, given its ultimate usage. The theatre has continued to decay, but its beautiful shell remains intact as a three-level, 160-space parking deck.
2. 72DP, Sydney
An extensive, colourful geometric mural decorates an underground car park in Sydney, Australia by architects Marsh Cashman Koolloos (MCK.) “The objective of the project was to breathe new life into the space which, having been rendered in concrete with little inlet of natural light, felt quite dark and heavy. Working closely with the owners, who possess a keen design sensibility, it was decided that the mural would cover all surfaces in a blanket of bright colour. There was also a request that the larger wall surfaces be left blank with an eye towards potentially introducing additional, individually commissioned works at a future date. nevertheless it was vital that the installation feel and function as a complete work in its own right.”
3. Parkhaus Engelenschanze, Stuttgart, Germany
This light-filled parking garage totally gets rid of that creepy enclosed feeling that many of these structures can foster. The Parkhaus Engelenschanze features an all-glass exterior, and its inner courtyard even has a waterfall, a creek and curtains made of reclaimed glass.
4. The VW Tower, Wolfsburg, Germany
Two towering silos are used to store vehicles at Volkswagen’s production facility and Autostadt visitor attraction in Germany. Reaching 48 meters (157 feet) into the air, the towers contain up to eight hundred cars lifted into position by rotating mechanical arms.
5. Ballet Valet, Miami
You might not expect a parking garage to be among a city’s most impressive architecture, but in Miami’s case, the Ballet Valet really does stand out. Completed in 1996 by Arquitectona, the garage in Miami’s Art Deco district is covered in grid-patterned fiberglass that serves as a terrace for climbing greenery. The garage sparked a trend in the city for well-designed parking facilities.
6. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Green-Roof Garage
Another parking structure disguised with greenery is that of SAIT, the Southern Albert Institute of Technology. It’s nestled into a hillside, and covered in a perforated metal screen with a cloud-inspired design that provides natural ventilation. The garage is actually located beneath the college’s playing field.
7. Santa Monica Civic Centre Parking Garage
The first LEED-certified parking garage in the United States is a colourful glass structure powered with solar panels and made using recycled and low-impact materials. Fourteen of the facility’s 900 parking spots are devoted to electric vehicles, with public electrical outlets, and the garage offers free bike storage.
8. Smart Car Vending Machine, Germany
This Smart Car tower may not be quite as impressive as the futuristic VW Tower, but it’s still pretty cool to see the little cars stacked in a glass enclosure at a Smart Car retailer in Germany.
9. 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami
Despite being made almost entirely of concrete, Miami’s 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage by Herzog de Meuron has a light and airy appearance. Its design was influenced by architect Jacques Herzog’s interpretation of Miami Beach: “all muscle without cloth.” The garage features some ceilings that are triple the typical parking height so it can accommodate special events like parties, photo shoots, fashion shows and concerts, against the backdrop of the Art Deco district of downtown Miami.
10. 18 Kowloon East, Hong Kong
At the base of a massive Hong Kong tower is a car park with extensive plantings that disguise the harsh concrete contours of the garage, and help improve the air quality inside.
11. Car Park in Herdern, Switzerland
A symbol of the tense relationship between motor vehicles and nature, this garage built into a hillside in Switzerland features five concrete cubes that put the cars on display, let natural light pour into the cave-like facility and offer a view of the countryside.
12. Parking Garage of the Leipzig Zoo
A light bamboo shade softens the garage of the Leipzig zoo in Germany, and acts as a reference to the world of exotic animals in the zoo. The bamboo also functions as a railing.
13. Charles Street Car Park
“The Charles Street car park acts as a large lantern at an urban scale,” write Allies and Morrison Architects of this facility in Sheffield, England. “The abstract and animated surface of its facade is composed of identical angled panels that are rotated randomly in four orientations. Each panel is made up of a single folded sheet of aluminium, painted green on the inside. Diurnal patterns of light and shade bring this functional building to life both internally and externally.”
14. Greenway Self Park, Chicago
The dozen wind turbines attached to the external structure of the Greenway Self Park in Chicago are its most stunning feature, put on prominent display in one corner. The 11-story, energy-efficient parking garage also features plug-in stations for electric cars, a green roof and a cistern rain water collection system.
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