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- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyAs you might already know, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=panasonic">Inhabitat is reporting from Osaka, Japan</a> this week, where we stumbled upon lovely ivy-wrapped building right down the street from our hotel. Not only is this verdant structure thriving with overgrown <a href="http://inhabitat.com/vertical-garden-2/">green walls</a>, upon further inspection we also realized that it's a bike storage garage - even better! Click through our gallery for our photos of both the exterior and interior of this fascinating building.1
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyLocated on a busy street behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel Osaka, the facility acts as a place for people commuting to the city to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/photos-inhabitat-explores-sanyos-5200-solar-panel-clad-kasai-green-energy-park/sanyo-kasai-solar-park10/?extend=1">store their bikes</a>.2
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyWhile typical multi-level bike parking structure are drab amalgams of concrete and steel, this iteration is a breath of fresh air - literally.3
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyEach level is planted with several rows of planters flush with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy">ivy</a>, wrapping the entire building with a thick layer of vegetation.4
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyA view of one of the green facades of the structure.5
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyWhile we were certainly fascinated by the green facade of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-biketower-bt-20-112-is-a-multi-story-parking-lot-for-bikes/">bike parking lot</a>, we were tickled pink when we discovered that we could explore the interior as well (trespassing schmesspassing).6
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyInside, the air was nice and cool despite the muggy outdoor temperature.7
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyNeat rows of bikes lined each floor, which could be accessed via a central staircase.8
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyThere was also a bumpy sloped corridor which, after a moment of thinking about it, we realized was a ramp for people to walk their bikes down.9
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyNeedless to say, we really wish someone would build something like this greenery-clad bike storage facility in New York too!10
- Striking Japanese Bike Parking Lot is Completely Overgrown with Green IvyA view through the ivy of the street below from the 3rd floor of the building.11