The design for this project aims to step towards the future and create a harmony between the “Automobile and the City.” It aims to invent the way we commute to Urban Hubs and how our “personal automobile” is stored while we work and play. These goals have been embraced for our client in this project that is located in a very central location within the Hangzhou CBD. The project aims to use “Green Parking” with “Public Space.” It aims to create a meeting place and Hub that also combines parking. We wanted to create a building that was a synthesis of available parking Technologies, Public Space, Event Spaces and Hanging Gardens.
We wanted this building to celebrate the cars of the future in a fully integrated way combining the structure with unique spaces that would provide a healthy and invigorating environment for families, friends and Business. The design from the beginning made the bold move to stack the Cars in futuristic “Towers” that seem to “blossom” into a roof form at higher level accommodating entertainment facilities and roof gardens. This roof form acts like a “Canopy of Trees” that provide Shade from the hot sun and rain. A “Plaza” is created at level 01 and Basement -01 for people to congregate and engage with “Nature” of the trees and Hanging Gardens that are supported by the Tower and roof structure.
Wonderful public and commercial spaces are generated by this architecture. Cars create the vertical animation within the Towers by the lift and stacking system. Lifts also add to the vertical animation of the Space by taking people from the Lower Levels to the Roof top where they can enjoy an additional ‘Park’ and public Space. Fantastic views and perspectives of the City and internal environment of this building are experienced.
The circulation of cars and people are separated at Level 01. Cars are taken directly to the lower parking and stack parking zones within the Basement. The parking user has the choice between automated and manual parking. The automated system is logically set out on 2 separate Floors. Level Basement -02 you leave your car at the “Drop Zone.” You can leave your car as it is parked by the automated system and stored with the “cocoon” of the towers.
You collect your car on Level basement -03. On entering the building you request your car and it is then returned to you by the automated system from the towers to the “Collection Zone.” You can then leave the building by the choice of Exit A or B that guide you to the road system.
The building in many ways is a “Parking Oasis.” Celebrating the car by breath-taking technology and architecture within a Garden Paradise. This combination of nature and architecture produces a building that is naturally super sustainable. It combines an abundance of natural ventilation and daylight that significantly reduces the mechanical Equipment to warm and cool the building throughout the year. It harnesses sunlight and storm water to irrigate and clean the building. The semi-internal quality of the building creates a perfect balance of temperature and ventilation within the spaces of the building for people to enjoy.
The architecture of the towers with their porous cladding system not only establishes the vertical structure for lateral stability of the whole building but acts as a ventilation system which penetrates into the basement areas of the building. The Car park not only ventilates any car fumes from non electric vehicles around the basement edge via the ramping system but also deep within the floor plan using the “Towers” as a kind of 21st-century chimney.
We have attempted to combine and celebrate automotive technologies in both its vehicular and parked form, in its ever evolving sustainable pursuit and house it as art within the architecture. It is a celebration of “Man and Machine” in a space for the future city that makes a statement to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.
“The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.”
– John Lasseter
