{"id":19,"date":"2024-11-06T16:16:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T16:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/looking4stg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=19"},"modified":"2026-07-21T09:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T08:41:59","slug":"car-park-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.looking4.com\/blog\/car-park-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Park Design: Who\u00a0says\u00a0car parks\u00a0can’t\u00a0be breathtaking?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to beautiful public buildings, they don\u2019t appear at the top of the list. But many car parks deserve a second look.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parking spaces, when left in the hands of clever architects and designers, become so much more than ugly blocks of concrete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From converted theatres in Detroit to giant kaleidoscopes in Lyon, the car parks of today are more than just functional they\u2019re an experience. Here are a few of our favourites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Eureka Tower car park: Melbourne, Australia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Concrete slabs and cinder blocks are usually reserved for graffiti artists, not design teams. But emerystudio, inspired by the work of Swiss artist Felice Varini, turned a grey cavern into a colourful dream. In the right position, drivers can see distorted letters snap into alignment as the words \u2018in\u2019, \u2018out\u2019, \u2018up\u2019 and \u2018down\u2019. Simple, but super effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Michigan Theatre: Detroit, USA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may recognise it from the Eminem film 8 Mile, but the history of Michigan Theatre goes way back. The grand Renaissance\u00ad style theatre opened in 1926, on the site of a small garage where Henry Ford built his first car. It hasn\u2019t been demolished, nor has it been restored. Instead, it\u2019s now the site of one of America\u2019s most breathtaking car parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Millennium Point: Birmingham, UK<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The award \u00adwinning Millennium Point illuminates the Eastside area of Birmingham. It was one of the first structures built during the multi-\u00admillion pound regeneration of the area. Panels at varying angles glow with neon turquoise and vivid ultramarine, giving the carpark a striking \u2018light cube\u2019 effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Welbeck Street car park: London, UK<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On London\u2019s famous Oxford Street, this elaborate array of concrete diamonds was built in 1971 by department store Debenhams. Catch it while you can, the Brutalist-era building is reportedly being demolished to make way for a new hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Parc des Celestins: Lyon, France<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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