Parking Garage

There used to be a strong relationship between companies and their architecture, but nowadays German business parks would hardly be the first place to go if you are looking for ambitious architecture. Textile company “Ernsting’s Family” is an exception. It maintains that a good working atmosphere derives from good buildings.

The company had the likes of Santiago Calatrava and David Chipperfield design the buildings on their premises. In 2003, Ernsting started an architecture competition solely for fresh graduates, which we have been able to win with a simple and sensible concept. The 500 car parking garage in Coesfeld-Lette closes the business district off from the neighbouring residential development by means of a long stretched-out solidium.

In addition to making very good functional use of the site, the structure takes the form of two opposed ramps. The two separate, 127 m-long building volumes contain two sloping [3.2 %] levels each, making additional ramps unnecessary. This left space to design parking levels with a generous height of 3.06 m, and also left a lot of the surrounding area untouched.

The 2.40 m wide central area allows light and air to flow through the two building parts, making the structure appear friendly and welcoming. The cascade stairs and platforms inside the building gap, created using galvanized gratings, support this light and airy theme. The wide-span, unsupported steel structure contrasts with the bright concrete filigree floors and the Douglas façade.

The open wooden façade gives the car park its natural appearance and from the outside a friendly and bright character. Through the natural colour of the wood arises inside a warm atmosphere. The "garden fence façade" is the ideal intermediary between the residential area on one side and the industrial area on the other side.

The expressive folding doors are reminiscent of the folding doors of the two distribution centres on the premises by Santiago Calatrava and Johannes Schilling, adding a third type of gate to them. "The folding doors seem to wink at the garden fences of the housing area close by, making the building into a big, abstract and friendly neighbour." [Florian Heilmeyer, Mark Magazine #15]

Source: Mies Arch Prize: http://www.miesarch.com/