Visiting Critic Studio 2006

Parking Problems and Solutions

Following our discussion on Wednesday about parking solutions, I've done a bit of research into new automated/semi-automated systems which offer increased parking by significantly reducing the amount of space required for driving the cars in and out.


For obvious reasons, these systems are becoming very popular in Europe but as of yet are only really used by car dealerships in the North American setting. My assumption is that such things as strict prescriptive building codes and short sighted mindset of developers have prevented their integration in North America. As we try to densify our city cores, however, land will become to valuable to waste with traditional parking lots and garages. Either more efficient parking systems or public transit systems (or a combination) will be required.

Here are some of the companies I have come across so far:

Westafia Technologies
Easy Park
Klaus Parking Systems

The system in the picture above is the CarSafe by Westafia

CAR SAFE:

• is the intelligent combination of design flexibility and cutting-edge technology.
• requires 35% less floor space, and reduces the area/volume of the building by up to 60%
• can accommodate 50 percent more vehicles than conventional ramp style garages
• can be integrated into almost any new construction or rebuild project.

Concept:

The car is placed safely on a parking pallet in the garage, and doesn't leave the pallet for the duration the car is parked in the garage.

After the entrance door to the garage is closed, a speedy material handling system transports the pallet, and car, to a parking place the computer-controlled system has pre-assigned.

posted by Sarah @ 1:11 p.m.