14 June 2019
ZJA Zwarts & Jansma Architecten has received an Award of Excellence for Architectural Achievement with the design for the underground Albert Cuyp garage in Amsterdam. The award was created by the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI).
The Albert Cuypgarage was built to improve the quality of life in Amsterdam's De Pijp district and to make better use of scarce public space. It is the first parking garage that was built under an Amsterdam canal. The idea behind ZJA's architectural design is to merge the parking garage into the existing urban landscape.
Invisible
The parking garage is almost invisible at street level, because it is completely hidden under an existing canal and so blends into the urban landscape. Almost all parking spaces on the street in the immediate vicinity of the parking garage have been removed and moved to the parking garage. The former parking places on the street have been redesigned to create more public space for new playgrounds, plants and squares.
More space green and children playing
The municipality of Amsterdam wants to improve the quality of life and accessibility of the city by creating more space for pedestrians, cyclists, children playing and greenery. To achieve this, the city has taken various measures to reduce the presence of cars in the city and to create car-free neighborhoods. One of these measures is the construction of the Albert Cuyp garage for 600 cars on two levels below the Boerenwetering canal.
Source: Parkeer24