The Cologne trade fair centre car park, to be built in two stages, with a development depth of roughly thirty-three metres, consists of two five-storey wings aligned ideally to the shape of the site and with a high degree of daylight. Cars access the entire car park complex solely from the loops of the Zoobrücke intersection. A lane between the wings brings exiting cars to the connection with the public road network. The floor-wise organisation of the parking levels prevents tailbacks both in the approach and exit areas. Internal circulation in the car park is by means of a total of three spiral ramps and six stairwells. The main pedestrian circulation is situated ideally within the pathing to the trade fair centre – getting there from within the car park would seem self-explanatory. The building is designed on the basis of a car park system (steel composite structure). At all four corners of a 16.0 x 2.50m element are exterior pillars, thus making for a user-friendly “pillar-free” layout. What is more, the load-bearing structure of concrete panels, steel pillars, and concrete decks makes it possible to install different curtain façade systems. Four façade variations were devised that differ distinctly in material and character and thus integrate advertising space in different ways.
