The Architecture of Parking - Tapa blanda

'A hymn to the true temples of the automobile age' - J. G. Ballard, Guardian 'Wonderfully original ... a Pevsner of parking' - New Statesman 'Proves that park-life isn't without its aesthetic pleasures' - Dazed & Confused 'Beautifully photographed ... shows that car parks offer some of the most astonishingly sculptural forms and surfaces in contemporary architecture' - Financial Times

Newly available in paperback, this book remains the only comprehensive international survey of one of the most neglected but most important building types of the modern era: the parking garage. An introduction sets out the history and architectural significance of these buildings and their relevance today, and is followed by four main chapters that define the most influential aspects of parking design: elevations and façade; construction and materiality; the use of light; and experimentation. The book’s wide-ranging importance and detailed plans make it an indispensable and inspirational resource for students, professional architects, engineers, urban planners and developers.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The History, Aesthetics and Impact of the Parking Structure · 1. Elevation: Skin, Lightness and Expression · 2. Matter: The Plasticity of Concrete · 3. Light: Animating the Utilitarian · 4. Space: Formal Innovation and Programmatic Experimentation Conclusion