The garage at Katwolderplein is conveniently located between the historic center of Zwolle and the A28 highway, and the Pathé cinema is also nearby - a point of attraction for potential “customers” of a 700-car parking lot (500 of which are for local residents).
The facade of the building is covered with patterned brickwork, a traditional material for the Netherlands. However, the project is inspired by the culture of the East, namely the caravanserai on the Silk Road. The color and ornaments of the facade, which are emphasized by the lighting after sunset, are designed to create an image from an oriental fairy tale.
At the same time, the garage is more than modern in nature: it neutralizes its not the most environmentally friendly function with the help of a well-thought-out plan that shortens the car's path from the entrance to the parking lot and back and thereby reduces exhaust emissions. There are 800 m2 of solar panels installed on the roof, LEDs illuminate the interior - and only when the sensors detect movement there, 28 charging points are provided for electric vehicles. Biodiversity has not been forgotten either: the rear façade is covered with climbing plants, the outer walls have recesses for nests and shelters of swallows and bats.
