Many cities all over the world are grappling with the challenge of inadequate space. There is an exponential growth in population but the size of the land has remained constant. The limited size of land available has to support the ever increasing number of commercial, institutional and residential structures. It is important that a parking garage design takes into account this challenge. The idea is to have as many vehicles as possible contained in as little a space as possible.
Capacity should never be increased at the expense of functionality. If this happens, then the whole project will be a failure in the long run. Since parking lots are arguably the most visited places on a building on any day it is important that their structure allows free movement. There should clear entries and exists for vehicles, cyclists and even pedestrians. This will help avoid traffic build up unnecessarily.
Car parks can be crested for institutions, commercial buildings or even residential areas. The designs adopted in each of these areas vary. There are, however, a number of things that are common to all. For example, the number of spaces to be created is proportional to the number of workers, residents or visitors expected when the unit is fully functional. The size of each space should be enough to fit the type of vehicles used. These are some of the things that the architect needs to know in advance.
The local climate of an area is likely to have an impact on the type of car park to be adopted. For instance areas that receive heavy rainfall require that proper drainage systems are put in place. One that is located in a sunny environment needs mechanisms that can help reduce heat. This may mean planting of more trees within the park or using materials that reflect the incident rays of the sun.
There are different types of materials that can be used. The choice is determined by many factors. One of them is the appearance of the local environment. The material chosen must fit into this environment. Climate also plays a role. Materials that facilitate the flow of water are chosen in areas receiving heavy rainfall. Those that are good reflectors are chosen in sunny areas. The type of materials may also be determined by owner and architect preference.
At times there may be special areas within the facility. These refer to areas that are reserved for some reason. If there is need to have them, the designer needs to have this information early enough. It will then be decided on how these areas will be accessed; either using key-cards or though separate gates. Handicap parking should also be considered separately. Ideally this area should close to the building and to the bus stop.
Most modern parking systems use very efficient designs. Incorporated in them are state-of-the-art technologies that make both parking and retrieval of vehicles incredibly easy. The main principle involves the use of gigantic lifts that park vehicles with amazing precision. These systems have come to be popularly called robotic parking systems.
There is no doubt that robotic systems are capital intensive. The good news is that they are very rewarding in the long run. A huge number of vehicles can be parked in an incredibly small space. They are also secure for both drivers and owners. A good parking garage design should have these characteristics.
Capacity should never be increased at the expense of functionality. If this happens, then the whole project will be a failure in the long run. Since parking lots are arguably the most visited places on a building on any day it is important that their structure allows free movement. There should clear entries and exists for vehicles, cyclists and even pedestrians. This will help avoid traffic build up unnecessarily.
Car parks can be crested for institutions, commercial buildings or even residential areas. The designs adopted in each of these areas vary. There are, however, a number of things that are common to all. For example, the number of spaces to be created is proportional to the number of workers, residents or visitors expected when the unit is fully functional. The size of each space should be enough to fit the type of vehicles used. These are some of the things that the architect needs to know in advance.
The local climate of an area is likely to have an impact on the type of car park to be adopted. For instance areas that receive heavy rainfall require that proper drainage systems are put in place. One that is located in a sunny environment needs mechanisms that can help reduce heat. This may mean planting of more trees within the park or using materials that reflect the incident rays of the sun.
There are different types of materials that can be used. The choice is determined by many factors. One of them is the appearance of the local environment. The material chosen must fit into this environment. Climate also plays a role. Materials that facilitate the flow of water are chosen in areas receiving heavy rainfall. Those that are good reflectors are chosen in sunny areas. The type of materials may also be determined by owner and architect preference.
At times there may be special areas within the facility. These refer to areas that are reserved for some reason. If there is need to have them, the designer needs to have this information early enough. It will then be decided on how these areas will be accessed; either using key-cards or though separate gates. Handicap parking should also be considered separately. Ideally this area should close to the building and to the bus stop.
Most modern parking systems use very efficient designs. Incorporated in them are state-of-the-art technologies that make both parking and retrieval of vehicles incredibly easy. The main principle involves the use of gigantic lifts that park vehicles with amazing precision. These systems have come to be popularly called robotic parking systems.
There is no doubt that robotic systems are capital intensive. The good news is that they are very rewarding in the long run. A huge number of vehicles can be parked in an incredibly small space. They are also secure for both drivers and owners. A good parking garage design should have these characteristics.
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