Amsterdam, The Netherlands
VenhoevenCS architecture+urbanism and DS Landschapsarchitecten have joined forces and have created a new underwater bike parking facility in the heart of Amsterdam that has changed the city center providing new public space and improving the city’s infrastructure offering more than 4,000 bike parking spaces.
The bike parking facility is located next to Amsterdam’s Central Station where trains, trams, buses, taxis, pedestrians, and cyclists converge.
Named IJboulevard, the project offers more public space for pedestrians around the busiest transportation hub in the city.
The design includes 6,000 square meters of new public space above ground, created by storing bicycles underwater.
The roof of the parking facility forms the new boulevard along the river IJ, creating a vibrant new walkway and gathering space for residents and visitors, with seating areas and views of the river.
The interior of IJboulevard features a design characterized by flowing lines and detailed rounded shapes, creating a warm and inviting aesthetic.
The use of wooden walls, subtle lighting, and a calm color palette aid in clarity and orientation.
The entrances are finished with the same dark gray natural stone as the boulevard, providing a seamless transition between the interior and exterior spaces.
The stairwells with large glass surfaces allow natural daylight in and provide a view of the parking facility from the pedestrian boulevard.
The well-lit, column-free design, long sightlines, and prominent position of the manager’s office will contribute to a sense of safety for users.
Its sustainable and eco-friendly design integrates low-energy consumption, sustainable materials, and features that promote biodiversity.
It also incorporates features that mimic natural habitats to promote biodiversity and support aquatic life.
The design includes elements such as bio huts, wood, coconut mats, and porous concrete between the underwater pile supports to provide shelter and surfaces for aquatic plants to grow, with the aim of improving the overall health of the river.
Project: IJboulevard Underwater Bike Parking
Architects: VenhoevenCS architecture+urbanism
Lead Architects: Danny Esselman and Max Fleer
Landscape Architects : DS Landschapsarchitecten
Photographers: Ossip van Duivenbode
