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Parklets
HOW TO TURN CAR PARKING SPACES INTO PEOPLE PLACES Parklets can serve as an important focal point when transforming streets from car dominated environments to community hubs, writes Habib Khan
Many believe the future of urban living is one that will not dominated by cars but by nature. The Covid19 pandemic has shown us the importance of green open spaces to our wellbeing and mental health. This shift towards outdoor spaces has paved the way for more parklets, with hundreds being installed in London alone over the past year.
So, what exactly is a parklet? Well, it’s a bit like a pocket park but on the road. A parklet is typically an extended platform over a parking space covering one, two or as many car parking bays as you want to convert. It generally combines elements such as, but not limited to seating, tables, planters with planting, green roof, pergola, bike parking or lighting. Parklets are classed as temporary measures as they can be moved very easily. Most parklets have a decked area, which takes into account the camber of the road and level with the kerb so as to avoid a trip hazard.
What innovations are possible with parklets?
Community parklets in Barnes, west London
Parklets have come a long way since our first installations over five years ago. They now have solar panels which provide lighting and power for charging the users mobile phones. They also have green roofs to attract biodiversity and with water attenuation tanks, these can capture rainwater to prevent flooding and the water can be used for the planters. Parklets can be designed to have Wi-Fi incorporated into them, which makes sponsoring the parklet more
