It’s all about the infrastructure. Cycle lanes, bike-sharing and grant funding are brilliant incentives to get off four wheels and onto two, but many European cities can’t accommodate thousands more push bikes cluttering their streets.
The Netherlands has been quietly but steadily bulking up their urban bike capacity by building underground garages, ensuring that everyone who cycles to work has a place to keep their steed during the day. Silo and Studio Marsman have collaborated on one of the country’s largest bicycle parking garages, a prime location beneath the Koningin Julianaplein in The Hague. This urban square is currently the subject of major renewal and this new bike park will soon be joined by apartments and more.
There’s room for 8,000 bicycles down here, enough to create a critical nodal point between the city’s main train station and its road network. Accessed via gently sloping travellators, the subterranean space is impressive, with high ceilings and plenty of lighting. Orientation is a major issue for riders looking to find their way in and out, as well as locating their bike, so the whole space has been given a spectacular graphic treatment by Silo, with murals depicted abstracted representations of the city’s skyline wrapping around the vast space.
One of their inspirations were the illusory drawings of Dutch artist MC Escher, whose work often featured transitional patterns that shift from one form to another. For their imagery Silo delved into The Hague’s impressive architectural heritage, with façades from iconic buildings like H.P.Berlage’s Kunstmuseum juxtaposed with contemporary works by Bernard Tchumi, Cesar Pelli, Benthem Crouwel and Hans Kollhoff. The result is a geometric tapestry that forms an underground cityscape, reflecting the changing world above.
INFORMATION
-
Ligne Roset teams up with Origine to create an ultra-limited-edition bikeThe Ligne Roset x Origine bike marks the first venture from this collaboration between two major French manufacturers, each a leader in its field
-
The Subaru Forester is the definition of unpretentious automotive designIt’s not exactly king of the crossovers, but the Subaru Forester e-Boxer is reliable, practical and great for keeping a low profile
-
Sotheby’s is auctioning a rare Frank Lloyd Wright lamp – and it could fetch $5 millionThe architect's ‘Double-Pedestal’ lamp, which was designed for the Dana House in 1903, is hitting the auction block 13 May at Sotheby's.
-
Anya Hindmarch teams up with Brompton to create a fashion-forward folding bikeThe power of the pedal is amplified by this timely tie-in between British bike makers Brompton and Anya Hindmarch
-
Orbea’s award-winning Diem e-bike offers performance, choice and styleSpanish bicycle manufacturer Orbea has brought its racing experience to bear on the new Orbea e-bike, a high performing machine pitched at urban use
-
A first look at the Palace x Brompton foldable bike boasting culture-defining flairThe Palace x Brompton C Line 2 Speed Low Bar is the first collaboration between the bike and streetwear brand, uniting urban style with functional design
-
Volt London e-bike: a city ride with a twist of styleThe Volt London e-bike is a clear rival to VanMoof, boasting elegant styling and superb performance
-
New Cowboy 4 e-bike is an impressive urban steedThe latest Cowboy e-bike rides to the rescue of urban commuters with technical prowess, industrial good looks and useful app integration
-
Freitag designs bag for the iconic Brompton bikeSwiss brand Freitag meets London's finest foldable bike in this collaboration between two urban design greats
-
New Ora Ïto-designed E-Bike opens up the British cityParis-based bike makers Angell launched E-Bike in the UK
-
New contenders in the electric bike market speed into prime position
