Garage design is an essential part of the planning and construction process. It can be a significant factor in determining whether or not local authorities will approve your project. This article provides some basic information about car parking design and gives you ideas on approaching this aspect of your project. The first thing that needs to be considered when designing a car park is the type of vehicle it is intended for.

Garage Design Aesthetics

Aesthetics are essential in car park design because they influence customer satisfaction. Customers like looking at attractive designs. However, aesthetics are only one element of a successful car park design. The other elements include ease of access, safety, security, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Garage Ease of Access

Ease of access refers to how customers enter and exit the car park. Some car parks are difficult to reach and therefore inconvenient for customers. Others are too far away from the main roads, making them inaccessible. Other factors, such as uneven footpaths and narrow doorways, make getting into and out of the building complex.

Garage Safety & Security

Safety is another key consideration. Many car parks lack adequate lighting and security measures. This can lead to accidents occurring during night time hours when visibility is reduced. It is essential that car parks are well lit and secure. Security is equally important. Garages are often targets for vandalism and theft. Therefore it is necessary to provide security guards and CCTV cameras to deter these crimes.

Garage Convenience

Convenience is yet another factor to consider. Ideally, customers want to be able to park their cars quickly and easily. For example, some people prefer parking on the left-hand side of the road, while others prefer right-hand drive. Also, some people can walk upstairs, whereas others find this easy.

Garage Cost-Effectiveness

Cost-effectiveness is the most critical aspect of car park design. To reduce costs, designers try to minimize the land required to build the car park. Cost-effective designs use fewer materials and labor.

Cost-Effective Car Park

Designing a good Garage involves careful planning and detailed analysis. It requires experience and expertise. Unfortunately, many designers do not possess sufficient knowledge about how to create a good car park. They tend to rely on past experiences or general guidelines. These are usually based on what has worked in the past. However, there is no guarantee that what worked in the past will work again.

Planning your Garage

Before construction, you will need to plan the layout and design of your car park. Your structure will depend mainly on your new car park’s intended use, location, and available space.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ for car park design, building, or costs, although there are some standard specifications you should consider so your visitors can easily park.

Standard car spaces need to be 2.4 meters by 4.8 meters
Light vans require 2.4 metres by 5.5 metered parking spaces
Lorries and large vans will need 3.5 meters by 18.5 meters of space
Coach car parking spaces will need to be 3.5 meters by 14 meters

You will also need to consider how you will accommodate different types of visitors, such as blue badge holders, electric charging points, and staff parking spaces. This can affect how you lay out the spaces in your car park. In-line, grid, or diagonal, whichever you choose, make sure that drivers with specific mobility requirements can still easily navigate your spaces.

Once you have decided on which structure of the car park is best, it’s time to consider planning regulations. Many multi-storey car parks will require planning permission, and nearly all car parks will have to meet certain council regulations. With your design in hand, get your planning permission sorted out before you start any real work.

Also read: 11 of the Finest Architectural Design Software for Mac You Wish You Had Known About Earlier

Accessible (Disabled) Parking

Disabled motorists want to access the car park independently. While increasing numbers of disabled people are now able to drive their vehicles, accessing a car park when they arrive at their destination is another matter entirely.
The lack of step-free access is the main barrier, but other issues, such as a lack of staff and general staff awareness, can also create challenges.

Garage Layout Design

The desired flow of vehicles is a significant consideration when designing a raised deck or multi-story car park layout, as is the required size and gradient of the ramps connecting the levels.
Modern multi-story car park design adopts two possible flow patterns: one-way and two-way. These are combined with either 90-degree or angled parking.

One-way flow systems combined with angled parking are ideal, ensuring easy entry and exit to and from parking spaces and the car park building.
Two-way flow systems are standard in the UK, allowing a higher flow rate. The trade-off is that they require more space and are less structurally efficient than one-way systems. The reduction in the volume of spaces could also impact the profitability of the car park unless they are located in busy urban areas where minimum parking durations could be imposed to increase volume. Ninety-degree parking is recommended for use with two-way flow systems, as angled parking can cause maneuvering problems for motorists.

Ramps connect the levels in a multi-storey-car-park together. In the UK, the width of ramps should usually be no less than 3.5 metres for a single ramp and 7 metres for a double ramp. Depending on whether a car park adopts a one way or two-way flow pattern, the width of the ramp should equate to either two parking bay widths or three parking bay widths, respectively.
The slope of the car park ramp should allow clear headroom of at least 2.1 metres with typical slopes ranges from 1:6 up to 1:10.

Also read: 6 Steps of Architectural Design Every Architect Should Know

What Is The Best Garage Layout Design For A Multi-Storey-Car-Park?

Your multi-storey-car-park will most likely adopt one of three common layouts:

1- Split Level: this is probably the most popular car park layout in the UK and when built in steel with column free spans allows row capacities in excess of 24 standard bays and achieves both economic and operational efficiency. It can be used with one-way or two-way circulation patterns and different ramp designs. The layout is simple and includes a separate entrance and exit.
2- Flat Deck: this layout is growing in popularity as it’s simple to construct and easy for motorists to use. This layout is often adopted when the car park levels need to match a neighbouring building, such as a shopping centre, airport or commercial office building.
3- Parking Ramps: this layout allows the motorist the advantage of passing all potential parking bays on entering the car park, but, unless an external express exit is provided, also requires the motorist to pass all of the bays in order to leave the car park which may discourage frequency of use.

: © multi-storey-car-parks

: © multi-storey-car-parks

: © multi-storey-car-parks

Also read: Navigating Inclusion: Essential Considerations for Ramp Design

Landscaping for Garage Lots

1- Adaptability

All on-site surface parking lots built after the implementation date of this Division must have landscaping. Multiple platted lots on a single site plan and any independent parking spaces linked by drive aisles are considered a single parking area.

2- Perimeter Screening

All surface parking lots, drive aisles, and other vehicular usage areas must be shielded from view from the neighboring street using one of the techniques listed below. A needed landscaping strip must be positioned at the parking space’s outer boundary and run the parking area’s length, omitting breaks for walkers, cyclists, and driveways.
For screening options that include shrubs, those must be 30 inches tall at the time of planting, and 70% of them must be evergreen.

Landscape Strip with Shrubs: A minimum 10-foot-wide shrub-planted landscaping strip. Within three years of planting, shrubs must be supplied to screen paved areas and parking lots from the right-of-way entirely.
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Landscape Strip with Screening Wall: A 2.5-foot-high screening wall is placed within a 4-foot planting strip. Screening walls must be closed and made of high-quality materials such as ornamental blocks, brick, stone, cast stone, or stucco over standard concrete masonry blocks, glass blocks, or other materials permitted by the Director.
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Landscape Strip with Berm: An earth berm at least 2.5 feet higher than the parking area’s final elevation, planted with five shrubs for every 35 linear feet of street frontage, excluding driveway openings. The berm must have a rounded crown appropriate for planting and a side slope of no more than 3:1.
© library.municode
Landscape Strip with Grade Change: A 6-foot landscaped strip with a minimum 3-foot grade drop from the street to the parking area, with five shrubs planted for every 35 linear feet of street frontage (excluding driveway openings).
© library.municode

3- Interior Islands :

Every eight parking spots must have a manicured internal island. Interior islands must be uniformly placed around the parking lot. To conserve existing trees, interior islands may be combined, or intervals may be widened.
An internal island bordering a single row of parking spots must have a minimum width of 9 feet and an area of 200 square feet. Each island must have at least one shade tree.
An inner island bordering a double row of parking spots must have a minimum width of 9 feet and an area of 400 square feet. Each island must have two shade trees.

4- Median Islands

Every six single parking rows must have a planted median island. Intervals might be extended to protect existing trees on the property.
The width of a planted median island must be at least 6 feet.
For every 80 feet of median island length, at least three bushes must be planted.
© library.municode

5- Island Plantings

All needed shade tree species must be selected from the Sandy Springs Technical Manual’s authorized list.
When planting, all needed shade trees must have a minimum caliper of 3 inches and be at least 10 feet tall.
Islands must be constructed beneath the parking lot surface and designed to catch runoff.
© library.municode

What’s included in a guide to a secure Garage lot design?

Determine who uses your parking lot
Maximize your parking lot size
Design a layout for safe traffic flow
Don’t forget the pedestrians
Choose long-lasting pavements
Utilize technology to make it safer

If you pay attention to the design of your parking lot, you can make it easier for drivers to find a slot, reduce accidents in your establishment, make a good impression on your clients, and deter trouble makers. To help you, here is a guide to a secure parking lot design! Keep on reading to learn more.