OUR LATEST CASE STUDY FOR DOWNLOAD - THE SILVERSTONE WING
Ash & Lacy Awards 2010
- Commended in the Exterior Walls Category -
Seymour Harris Architecture for
Birmingham International Train Station Car Park
Installation Contractor: Gable UK
Product Description: AshTech rainscreen cladding in silver and yellow finishes
Architect/Specifier: Seymour Harris Architecture
Installer: Gable UK
Main contractor: Osborne
Design statement on methodology
"The site for the new multi storey car park, an existing surface car park at Birmingham International train station. The MSCP represents a real ‘State of the Art’ facility and is a major benefit to the West Coast train line and will be an asset to the Birmingham International.
"The site lies in close proximity to the existing monorail link with the existing surface car park passing under the monorail at the mid point.
"The proposed MSCP design satisfies the following criteria that are considered to be some of the essentials for good multi storey car park design at railway stations: -
- Safety
- Easy to use
- Flexibility
- Good pedestrian links to station and external facilities
- Good visibility
- Long search patterns (where possible)
- Short exit patterns (where possible)
- Good lighting
- Good signage
- Natural cross ventilation
- Low maintenance of structure
- Operational Management
- Disability issues
"The proposed building is used as a multi storey car park for use by railway passengers. It provides a minimum of 1200 car parking spaces.
"The payment method is a ‘pay on foot’ and pay stations are provided in the main core area and at both ground and second floor. Barriers control the car park vehicle entrance.
"The interiors are well-lit, welcoming, user friendly and attractive. The car park is finished to a design standard adequate to comply with secure car park accreditation.
"The location of the proposed MSCP occupies a prominent site. A visual link of the car park can be seen from the approach to Birmingham International Station from both Bickenhill Lane west of the site and the main access route through the Station site along Station Way. Station Way is a very linear straight route flanked by a contemporary glazed entrance to the east of the site and the existing surface car park to the west.
"The site is relatively flat with a small bank to the west edge leading to the overspill car park. The site itself is very linear, but relatively restricted in the width. The design of the car park has taken on a level floor plate design accessed at the far extremes of the site, and adopts a ramped floor plate to increase level gain.
"Within the design we have tried to emphasise the active edge and the strong linear movement from the sites immediate surroundings. We have achieved this through the use of angular geometry within the cladding design. The station buildings surrounding the site have a very contemporary appearance and this is achieved through their proportion, materiality and detail. We have looked to compliment this with the new MSCP by utilising materials of aluminium cladding, mesh panels and glazing. The cladding is designed to actively follow the movement that continually moves through the site at varying degrees of intensity. The use of bold colour and signage highlights key areas and adds a further dimension to the design."