A sustainable, triangular-shaped bicycle garage in Sweden

The design aims to serve as a beacon of the city’s sustainability, and has room for 1200 vehicles

Spotted: Swedish Tengbom architects have designed a bicycle garage that has room for 1200 vehicles. The garage, which is situated beside the central station in Uppsala, has been designed as a beacon of the city’s sustainability ambitions, both socially and environmentally.  

The design is both functional and graceful, with its wooden frame holding a unique triangular shape that is covered by mirroring glass façades. Two levels are connected by a wooden ramp, allowing commuters to ride their bikes between floors. The garage also presents a sedum-covered roof that allows it to absorb excess water from heavy rains and solar cells to provide an eco-friendly source of power.  

The area by the central station where the garage is situated is somewhat dark and unsafe, Tengbom architects told Archdaily. With the aim of making it safer for commuters at night and during wintertime, the company collaborated with Bjerking lighting consultant. Together, they installed lighting effects that are programmed to change colour and give the illusion of northern lights. The transparent façades also enable lighting to travel better. 

The team includes Cecilia Öberg (commissioned architect), Eva Mikkelsen (design manager), Vahid Sabouri (architect), Fredrik Gärdhammar (architect), Claudio Mihel (architect) and Asa Hellström (architect). 

“We have strived to use as few materials and colours as possible, in order to enhance the beauty of the wood construction and to let the building keep its clear, geometric shape without any disturbing elements or additions”, commissioned architect Cecilia Öberg says.  

The use of concrete, black steel, glass and wood was selected to provide a sense of simplicity as well as for their sustainable properties, according to the firm. Wood is a sustainable material in its durability and low carbon footprint, whilst glass and steel don’t require a lot of maintenance. Concrete, whilst not very sustainable in terms of its carbon footprint, was selected for its resilience and longevity.  

Explore more: Architecture & Design Innovations | Sustainability Innovations