Jiujie, located in the core area of Jiangbei District, Chongqing, transforms into a vibrant hub of nightlife as dusk falls. Neon lights illuminate bustling crowds while laughter from bars intertwines with pulsating music rhythms, embodying the essence of Chongqing"s nocturnal culture. Like all commercial districts, it faces the universal challenge of parking scarcity.
As the hidden pulse of modern cities, parking spaces serve as crucial infrastructure supporting urban efficiency and quality of life, bridging urban living with inpidual mobility. However, accelerated urbanization has intensified parking space shortages. The scarcity has normalized a "any spot will do" mentality, making people seemingly indifferent to parking experience quality.
This reality prompts us to reconsider the potential value of parking spaces - these seemingly mundane urban elements. Perhaps Jiujie"s parking garages should mirror the district itself, embodying the city"s glamour and fashion.
1.Visual Transformation of Mechanical Parking Systems
While technological advancements have addressed functional challenges - simplified parking processes, reduced waiting times, and EV compatibility - they haven"t dispelled public prejudice against mechanical parking. Introducing artistic designs to create fashionable parking spaces emerges as the next evolutionary step for the industry.
2.Diversified Underground Space Utilization
Unlike conventional garages, mechanical parking structures feature abundant available space on entry levels, avoiding cramped parking rows. This spatial advantage enables multifunctional transformations - integrating bars, convenience stores, event venues for parties or concerts, and Instagram-worthy installations. Thus, parking areas evolve from single-purpose facilities into dynamic urban energy hubs.
3.Innovative Parking Experience Design
From entering a chromatically-lit underground space to experiencing novel parking/retrieval processes, the integration of daylight/nightlight modes creates temporal awareness in subterranean environments. This ritualization of parking behavior embodies urban warmth and thoughtful design, transforming routine actions into memorable experiences.
Urban commuters often transition from one garage to another, moving through these spaces to reach various destinations, with the intermediate journey frequently overlooked. This garage functions as an underground urban teleportation hub, where energy-charged crystals metaphorically connect all spatial transitions.
The garage features dual vehicle entrances at southern and northern ends, with a pedestrian entrance on the ground floor incorporating commercial spaces and support facilities. The B1 level serves as the parking intake layer, where two crystalline vehicle reception cores form the spatial center. These cores radiate outward:
Exterior Zones: Vehicle intake channels with expanded spatial capacity beyond mere traffic needs, equipped with projectors for future event hosting
Interior Zones: Vehicle exit routes flanking commercial spaces at both ends
The southern section connects to Jiujie's main pedestrian flow, featuring public restrooms at the southwest corner.
Thus transformed, parking garages evolve from passive urban service spaces into active lifestyle enhancers. What was once neglected underground space becomes a futuristic mecha-gallery, where artistic design and intelligent systems replace gloomy concrete walls. This garage redefines urban infrastructure value - proving urban life should transcend mere functional fulfillment.
Investor & Operator: Star Smart Parking
Interior Design: We Live Architects
Lead Architects: Li Weitao, Li Bo
Design Team: Zhang Zhaoxin, Zhang Zhirui, Deng Lin, Liu Ting
Construction Documentation: Chongqing Index Geometry Decoration Engineering Design Co., Ltd.
VI Design: BBH DESIGH
Lighting Design: Yuan Youwu
Photography: Archtric Image
Model: Yang Pizi
Design date: 2024
Completion date: 2024
Interior area: 3270sqm