Housing Planning For Parking

Planning for parking It is always possible to add an extra floor but it is next to impossible to create additional open space

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esigning driveways and parking for large campuses and corporate or apartment complexes is a different ball game altogether. One thing that has to be borne in mind at the outset is that parking is a futuristic design element. When we talk about largescale parking we are looking at very large apartment complexes, large campuses, housing corporates or educational institutes on the one hand and public parking as in entertainment zones, recreational areas and shopping complexes. Whatever be the nature of the structure we need to anticipate growth that is likely to take place in the next ten or more years for a large community of people. It is always possible to add an extra floor but it is next to impossible to create additional open space. So it is best to keep that extra space at the seams to accommodate additional vehicles. We will first look at designing private properties as in campuses and complexes be-

fore moving onto public parking in- flow from the complex. cluding road side parking and Proper planning landscaping. In case of large complexes one Once we are agreed on the point that parking space should never be thing that is not in short supply is compromised upon for short- term space. Invariably large tracts of land gains, we need to concentrate on are earmarked for future develophow best to utilise available space. ment. And this could turn out to be The first point to work on is obvi- a disaster in disguise if parking and ously the approach gates. If the site drives are not properly planned at is located in a crowded part of the the initial stage or if the master plan city where traffic is heavy on ap- for the entire campus locating fuproach roads, it would be worth- ture structures is not finalised. Inwhile to link the property to two variably it would lead to a situation different roads, parallel or perpen- where parking lots of today give way dicular. In some cases large plots to additional blocks a couple of straddle two roads and it would be a years down the line and drives and good idea to provide entrance and parking lots have to be moved lock, exits from both the roads in a bid to stock and barrel to a location which ease traffic flowing out of the com- might not be the most convenient plex and congesting a single road. or well designed option. The drive in large campuses Another point to note is that large complexes that house both com- needs to necessarily lead to main mercial establishments and resi- administrative hub. Though one dential flats should, if possible, might not use the final stretch of the provide independent parking and drive leading to the main door on a approach to these shops or offices. daily basis, it must be borne in mind With regard to gates, again the rec- that this is a VIP entrance point. ommendation would be to go in for The drive needs to necessarily bell mouth entrance as it would branch off into parking bays. Even provide that extra holding space for as the entry and exit points from the vehicles trying to enter the traffic road into the campus need to be

GREEN DRIVEWAY: A well designed porch and parking. PHOTO: C. RATHEESH KUMAR

In the absence of defined parking bays, one would be tempted to allow parking along the drive adjacent to the kerbs, this would be a very unwelcome step for free flow of traffic. It is, therefore, worth while to invest in parking lots. In today’s deParking options sign parlance open air parking is a Other blocks within the campus popular choice. This is because the can be connected by pathways to number of vehicles that can be acthe main parking bay or if the cam- commodated outdoors dramaticalpus is very sprawling as is the case ly increases as it is not restricted to with educational institutions such the confines of basements or parkas IITs and IIMs, can have their ing bays designed around stilts and independent approaches and park- pillars. ing options. Also if the blocks are What are the factors that come not linked structurally it is a good into play when designing open car idea to provide for smaller roads parks and what are the landscape connecting these structures which elements that cane be introduced to may come in handy on a rainy day, make parking bays a aesthetic and literally.Also apart from the main green utility space instead of a moentrance and drive, it would be a notonous rows of vehicles? These good idea to have an alternate en- we will look at in the coming week. trance and exit which if not deThe author is a Chennaisigned to cater to the entire traffic based Landscape Architect and flow can stand up to emergencies. Environmental Planner.

monitored, points of entry into parking bays need to be staffed both to regulate inflow and direct vehicles to defined parking spaces to make optimum use of available slots.