A classic example of membrane structure – the world’s largest bicycle parking lot in Utrecht, the Netherlands

The project was designed by ECT Hougstad and was designed from three aspects: convenience, speed and safety. With that in mind, the plan is divided into parking units and road units, marked in red, that safely guide users around the garage without bumping into each other. Bike lanes cover three levels, including slow ramps that allow cyclists to pedal from the parking space at the bottom all the way to the ground square.

The project was designed by ECT Hougstad and was designed from three aspects: convenience, speed and safety. With that in mind, the plan is divided into parking units and road units, marked in red, that safely guide users around the garage without bumping into each other. Bike lanes cover three levels, including slow ramps that allow cyclists to pedal from the parking space at the bottom all the way to the ground square.

The three-storey bicycle car park was built to elevate Utrecht as a sustainable city and is also part of a wider redevelopment project in the Central Station area. At ground level, a huge canopy was added to the square, announcing it as a new vibrant gathering space for locals and visitors alike. The structure of the giant canopy can even be seen inside the underground bike garage, with trumpet-like columns extending below, providing a structural and visual connection between the levels.

Back in 2011, Ector Hougstad Architecten worked with Sant & Co and Royal Haskoning DHV to win a design competition for the bike parking lot at Grand Central Station. After 6 years of construction, the first phase of construction started in early August 2017. Now, in 8, development has been completed, providing a world record bike storage capacity and creating a new dynamic hub for Utrecht.

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