Fietsenpakhuis: Netherlands Town Builds A Stylish Bike Warehouse To Store 700 Bicycles For Free

When you live in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/the-netherlands">The Netherlands</a> finding a parking space is a huge problem - for your bike that is. As a way to relieve bike congestion in the town of Zaanstad, city officials agreed to build a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/bike-parking">bike parking</a> house that could store up to 700 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/bicycle">bicycles</a> and made it completely free to boot. Fietsenpakhuis, designed by <a href="http://www.nunc.nl/architecten/?p=1764" target="_blank">Nunc Architecten,</a> relies on solar passive design, natural ventilation and solar energy, and is <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc-ironically-announces-bikes-in-buildings-law-while-cutting-bike-lanes/">easing congestion in the city</a> while encouraging more people to ride their bikes.

The Zaanstad Bicycle Warehouse is located in the city center, whose architecture is largely defined by industrial warehouses.

Inspiration for Fietsenpakhuis came from the archetype of the “Zaanse” warehouse, which was an expressive wooden structure of beams and columns supports the building and is enclosed by a shell of brickwork.

The two story building features a wall of glass on the front, brick construction and then a translucent screen back wall.

A large accordion style door opens into a double height space with bike parking on both levels and a sloping ramp to access the second story.

Bike lock systems were engineered with the help of <a href="http://www.klavergroup.nl/cases/gemeenten-en-provincies/fietsenpakhuis-gemeente-zaanstad" target="_blank">KlaverGroup</a> and <a href="http://www.klavergroup.nl/cases/gemeenten-en-provincies/fietsenpakhuis-gemeente-zaanstad" target="_blank">Cycle Up</a> to store 700 bicycles a day, free of charge to the users.

The space also includes public toilets, bike repair, bike rentals and lockers

Design of the building is also strongly focussed on sustainability and includes the use of passive solar design, natural ventilation, and a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/solar-power">solar system</a> on the roof.

All of the materials were sourced locally and the wood comes from certified sustainable sources.

And of course the main point of the facility was to provide lots of free <a href="http://inhabitat.com/car-shaped-bike-rack-reclaims-parking-spaces-for-cyclists/">bike parking spaces</a> as a way to encourage more people to ride their bike rather than drive.

Fietsenpakhuis <a href="http://zaanstad.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2279/~/waar-vind-ik-het-zaanse-fietsenpakhuis%3F" target="_blank">officially opened on June 1, 2011</a>.

Rendering of the bike warehouse in the context of the surrounding architecture.

Program layout for bike parking, amenities and the structure.

Interior section and street facade elevation.