paul de ruiter architects: temporary parking garage, leiden

temporary parking garage, leiden by paul de ruiter architects all images courtesy paul de ruiter architects

dutch firm paul de ruiter architects have won the competition to design a temporary parking garage in leiden, the netherlands.

the building fits into its urban planning setting at the edge of the city centre, facing the mors gate. the parking floors have been divided up in a readily accessible way, with parking places that are easy to turn into, and are furnished with clear signals and signs. the façade is partly transparent, allowing a view out onto the surroundings. in addition, a minimum number of slim columns have been used, in order not to block sight lines and to provide a feeling of safety.

the facade made with artificial netting

the facade with shutters open

the parking garage contains 450 parking places, but the building is very compact, allowing the existing stands of trees along the road to be retained. local residents have been allowed input in the construction of the outer façade, which gives the garage its feel. there was a vote on three different façade designs by means of an internet poll – one steel, one glass and one made of netting. the local residents chose netting. the partly transparent cloth is made of sustainably manufactured artificial fibres and has the feeling of a covering of leaves in a wood. the natural shades of green and brown lend a natural effect to the area.

the facade with shutters closed

the facade with shutters open

temporary architecture the garage is situated facing the western gate to the city, the morspoort, and will be operated by the municipality over the next 10 years. this period could possibly be extended for a flexible period of 10 years, with regard to structure and management. ultimately, the ground has to be made available again for urban development. the use of recyclable materials means the building is easy to remove.

the facade with shutters closed

energy saving given that our current way of life is largely dependent on mobility (by car), it is important that the issue is resolved in a way that is as sustainable as possible. the mors gate garage provides considerable energy saving by using natural ventilation instead of mechanical. an intelligent lighting scheme is used with dynamic signalling and road signs, motion detectors, daylight operated illumination and very low-energy illumination fittings. even more energy is saved through the climate system in the porter’s cabin, which uses a heat recovery system and heat pump. the ramps are never steeper than 10%, which means that ramp heating is not necessary and driving is easier for the user and that there is less risk of damage.

model of the carpark