This Rustic Bike Hotel is the Perfect Solution for Parking Problems
Farida Helmy — July 21, 2014 — Art & Design
References: mmw.no & designtaxi
A need for bike parking prompted a Norwegian town to get creative and commission an architecture firm to convert an old railway building into a rustically hip bike hotel.
Like many cities around the world, Drammer, Norway, had a parking problem. With the recent surge in biking instead of driving and countries encouraging their citizens to bike more, parking has become a problem. Instead of leaving their townsfolk without enough bike racks, the city built them a bike hotel. The new hotel was transformed from an old railway building into a safe parking for 134 bicycles -- with four charging spots for electric bikes!
"We really wanted people to get a glimpse into a historic space. We even wanted the building to smell like in the old days, so we used old tar-smelling oil products," says Magne Magler Wiggen from the architect firm MMW Architects, who were responsible for the project.
Like many cities around the world, Drammer, Norway, had a parking problem. With the recent surge in biking instead of driving and countries encouraging their citizens to bike more, parking has become a problem. Instead of leaving their townsfolk without enough bike racks, the city built them a bike hotel. The new hotel was transformed from an old railway building into a safe parking for 134 bicycles -- with four charging spots for electric bikes!
"We really wanted people to get a glimpse into a historic space. We even wanted the building to smell like in the old days, so we used old tar-smelling oil products," says Magne Magler Wiggen from the architect firm MMW Architects, who were responsible for the project.
Trend Themes
1. Bike Parking Solutions - Renovated Railway Racks showcase a trend of creative solutions for the growing demand for bike parking in urban areas.
2. Adaptive Reuse Architecture - The transformation of an old railway building into a rustically hip bike hotel exemplifies the trend of repurposing existing structures for new and innovative purposes.
3. E-bike Infrastructure - The inclusion of charging spots for electric bikes in the renovated railway racks highlights the trend of accommodating the increasing popularity of electric bicycles in urban transportation.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - The renovation of the railway building into a bike hotel presents an opportunity for architecture firms to specialize in adaptive reuse projects.
2. Urban Transportation - The bike hotel addresses the parking problem and promotes sustainable transportation, indicating an industry opportunity for urban mobility companies and local governments.
3. Cycling Infrastructure - The provision of secure and charging facilities for bicycles in the bike hotel creates an opportunity for companies specializing in cycling infrastructure to target the growing market of bike-friendly cities.
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