Genton’s design of Berwick Car Park completely rethinks how safety and transparency might go hand in hand to produce a visually interesting building, but also one whereby the occupants feel safe, visible and have access to fresh air and sunlight.
Unlike traditional car park models, Berwick car park has been designed to address concerns around safety and ease of movement. Instead of replicating a typical car park design, which is often isolated, dark, and heavily reliant on artificial lighting and ventilation, Berwick design embraces an open-air approach. By removing the standard aluminium mesh screening from the exterior, the occupants are highly visible to passersbys, whilst allowing users access to views, fresh air and natural light.
Striking red, ribbon-like staircases sit proud of the building, intuitively guiding occupants to the stairs, encouraging a healthy path of travel. Wayfinding is a key focus in this design. The red stairs draw attention to users, whilst at the same time offering visibility from the street, increasing their sense of safety as they walk up and down the building.
As part of the new multilevel car park there is an integrated bus exchange. The idea of integrating a bus exchange into a car park is unusual. However, the reasons behind it echo the premise of the design of the building - safety and visibility. The ground floor of the car park serves as the waiting area for bus passengers, sheltered from the weather by the car park structure. By using creativity and innovation to incorporate multi-functional design elements - designing for shared functions within the same physical footprint, it reduces the need to build additional structures. By producing a canopy for commuters within the structure of the car park, it reduces cost, waste, and increases convenience, efficiency, and sustainability.
The benefit of passengers waiting for buses means the car park occupants are not alone as they enter the building. A simple car park becoming a transport hub, encourages commuters of all description to be in the one place, creating a hive of activity and ultimately offering safety in numbers.
The design also has a focus on sustainability. By removing the traditional ‘second skin’ of a car park and eliminating the aluminium screening - high in embodied carbon, the design responsibly addresses materials and environmental management. This dematerialisation approach makes the building a more efficient structure employing the most economic use of materials and products. It’s ‘open air’ design also makes it significantly less dependent on artificial lighting and ventilation.
The new infrastructure has improved bicycle parking, accessibility and security, with more than 37,000 trees, plants and shrubs to be planted, including oak trees to provide shade and wind protection. The outcome will improve passenger experience due to a safer and more convenient transport interchange.
