I didn't know parking lots could be so pretty until I attended a free lecture put on by the Vancouver Institute; Saturday night about architect Bing Thom.
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| View of the parkade with soccer pitch above |
The fascinating retrospective of the work of his office Bing Thom Architects Inc. entitled The Transformative Power of Architecture: The Works of Bing Thom, showcased projects in China, the US and on Canadian sole in Alberta and B.C. A look through the projects section of their website, will give you a visual representation of the slideshow he provided along with his insightful thoughts on how to better build cities and cultural spaces.
What most caught my attention was a project he completed in 2009 in Calgary, Alberta for the SAIT Polytechnic campus. Specifically they were asked to build a three-level parking facility which was to support a year round soccer pitch on the roof.
For most, parking garages are utilitarian in look and purpose. Usually they are made of ugly grey concrete, have bad lighting and even worse security which make them the least desirable place to spend time.
Bing Thom and his team set out to make the SAIT parkade better, and succeded with architectural solutions to bad connotations that they bring. However they took it one step further and thought about aesthetics by hiring Vancouver artist Roderick Quinn.
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| Close up of punched holes |
In combining a way to create ventilation for the parking facility without mechanical help, Roderick Quinn created 4x4 panels of clear anodized aluminum with holes strategically punched into them. These holes not only allowed for ventilation and natural light for the interior of the parkade, but on the exterior they create a giant outdoor work of art. As the sunlight interacts with the facade, the image of an Alberta prairie sky is depicted and changes as the sun rises and sets. Even at night time the image glows from the interior lights.
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| Close up images of the Alberta sky image |
I for one, would love to see more utilitarian buildings be made with as much thought, care and creativity as Bing Thom and his team have put into this parking facility. If architects, developers and city planners begin to open the discussion on how better to meet the needs of the end user, but also to add beauty to our urban landscape, we will all begin to see some positive changes in our communities. So I ask, are there other buildings and architects out there doing similar things around the world? I would love to hear from you and learn more!
