Parking Garage Facade P22a at the Cologne Exhibition Centre

Cologne, Germany

Photo © Tobias Vollmer

Parking Structures

Architects: wulf architekten

Location: Pfälzischer Ring 105, 50679 Cologne, Germany
Year: 2017
Client: Koelnmesse GmbH Köln
Team: Kai Bierich, Manuel Cabezas (PL)
Local construction management: IQ Real Estate, Düsseldorf
Project management: dip Deutsche Industrie- und Patkahusbau GmbH, Bad Honnef
Awards: Architizer A+ Awards (Winner)

The challenge for the car park was to design a facade that not only appears light and transparent, but also surrounds the S-shaped curved structure with a poetic-organic shell that gives it a light plasticity. The homogeneously designed facade does not appear ornamental - rather, it is designed like a large organic structure that gives the impression that it is breathing.

Cologne Exhibition Centre's P22a car park (design: schultearchitekten, Cologne) is located on the Zoobrücke bridge and offers 3,260 parking spaces on 5 parking levels. Our task was to design an innovative and symbolic facade for the trade fair and the city of Cologne on the S-shaped, curved, existing floor plan.

For the translation of this approach, around 3,000 laser-cut panels with edge reinforcement were manufactured from perforated sheeting. The gill-like openings and the perforation of the plates themselves ensure the necessary natural air flow through the car park and at the same time the natural lighting of the interior. The overlapping sheets create interesting geometric patterns that develop a sensual, symbolic symbolism, especially at night.