The view from the driving seat

CAR PARK DESIGN

The view from the driving seat

The global pandemic has had a profound effect on how we travel, which means the way we design and build car parks has to change, says Berry Systems’ Steve Dunn

To say that these are uncertain times is a huge undercoming rise in electric vehicle use. Adding a few token chargers statement. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact now will not cater for future requirements and this needs to be facon our world and the effects have been felt by every tored in to plans. one of us – both personally and professionally – in Technology moves at a rapid rate. The innovative, environmentally one way or another. These shockwaves will be felt for friendly products that are currently being developed at Berry many years to come and we should be prepared to Systems will be in common use in a few years, enabling buildings face a decade of change in many aspects of our daily lives. to utilise integrated solar power systems to provide clean energy to

Changes already underway in our city and town centre planning charge electric vehicles. will accelerate to meet new demands. Improvements need to be made to protect the environment and our safety must never be Building on experience taken for granted. We are witnessing the transformation of urban With almost half a century of experience in building car park envistreets to create more space for cycling and walking, and growing ronments, Berry Systems has seen lots of change over the years. To concerns about the future of urban centres as places to work and help our clients make sense of a world that is changing dramatically, shop. These trends will have a profound effect on the operation of Berry Systems has launched the Car Park Design Advisory Service existing car parks, and significant implications for the design and (CP-DAS) to provide expert advice, guidance and information to construction of new ones. architects, developers and planners, Changing landscape future-proof and equipped to manDuring lockdown, the highways age the changes that are coming. and byways have been practically empty and town centres deserted. Change is inevitable, but by learning CP-DAS harnesses Berry Systems’ collective knowledge and puts the As restrictions are eased and more the lessons of the past and by being company in the driving seat when and more people start to go back to work, the roads will soon return clever, change should be for the better it comes to being able to assess the market and to evaluate the direction to normal. Steve Dunn in which it is going.

However, the same cannot be Involving experts such as Berry said for our high streets. Town System’s CP-DAS early on in a procentre shopping has been on the ject means they can help model decline for many years now. An clients’ current requirements and increase in online ordering and guide them on future-proofing the out-of-town retail outlets has seen more and more shops close for infrastructure for changing demands. CP-DAS can also advise business and the lockdown has put another nail in the coffin. clients on technological advances and how they can be incorporated

A careful balance will have to be struck by town planners for the into projects, ensuring the facilities they build today are prepared future. Without the requirement for so many shops in our town to provide the solutions for tomorrow. centres, buildings will need to be re-purposed. It is likely that more of these will be used for urban living and non-retail, leading to a Safety first change in traffic requirement and more flexible parking facilities. One thing that definitely will not change in the future is that safety Detailed consideration has to be given to how these buildings will will always be the most important factor of any development and be used, in both the short-term and long-term, and initial designs has been at the heart what Berry Systems has done over the past will need to reflect this. Future-proofing projects right from the 50 years. Safety standards for both vehicles and pedestrians are start will ensure that the buildings constructed now are flexible constantly being updated and refined. enough to offer solutions to issues that may arise in years to come. As a company we monitor these carefully to ensure all regulations Environmentally friendly parking to meet, and surpass, Health & Safety specifications. CP-DAS will One positive that the parking sector can take from the pandemic is ensure that clients benefit from the same exact standards in the effect that the lockdown has had on the environment. We have meeting appropriate legislation. all seen the footage of cleaner seas and clearer skies – we need to CP-DAS’s surveying service provides both precise and comprelearn lessons from this. hensive reporting, detailing all recommendations and costings.

The number of cars on our roads has risen by 49% over the last Berry Systems’ in-house testing facilities ensure all products and 25 years, to approximately 32.5 million. Predictions estimate that projects meet the most stringent standards of compliance. if growth continues at the same pace, we could have 46.9 million Change is inevitable, but by learning the lessons of the past and cars on British roads by 2043. However, the UK government is by being clever about how we approach the future, change should taking strong steps to counter the effect this rise will have on the be for the better. environment, with plans to ban the selling of new petrol, diesel or to ensure that their projects are are met and to help predict future changes. Berry Systems works hybrid cars from 2035 at the latest. Steve Dunn is managing director Berry Systems

It is vital that the car parking facilities we build today reflect the www.berrysystems.co.uk

The Watts House car park at the University of Brighton features a green wall. Berry Systems’ perforated cladding system provides a practical functionality. Watts House was voted Best New Car Park at the British Parking Awards 2020

Berry Systems creates sustainable cladding and façades, says Steve Dunn

Whether it is a car park, commercial building, block of flats or an office complex, the changing urban landscape and tighter planning restrictions now require architects to get more creative with the look of their projects while satisfying environmental standards.

The exterior aesthetic is a key consideration in the planning process of any building. Berry Systems offers an extensive range of cladding and façade options that not only provide planners with myriad choices to create bespoke appearance but also provide sustainable solutions.

Expanded mesh suits a variety of different styles and visual requirements and due to the stretching/expanding manufacturing process, can be produced with limited to zero waste. When recycling aluminium cladding, it has an energy saving of 95% of that required through the primary smelter production route.

Environmental impact is also major factor in the plans for any building. Whether it is ensuring that the finish complements the surrounding landscape, is manufactured using sustainable products or can actively benefit the building itself, Berry Systems has solutions for all requirements.

An increasingly popular option for architects are green walls. Depending on the size of the perforation Living façades can be utilised in various configurations to support and pattern the amount of natural light climbing or scrambling plants. This is a practical method of giving in the car park can be managed a building a more natural appearance while helping to purify the air and lower ambient temperature inside the building, reducing Berry Systems the need for air conditioning. Involving expert suppliers such as Berry Systems early in the

Composite timber cladding is another environmentally-friendly planning process, means they can advise on all of the options choice. Not only does it create a highly attractive finish but is made available. For example, Berry Systems is happy to send samples of from reconstituted timber and recycled high-density polyethylene. the different types of cladding available so customers can see the

Another green option is Sto Glass. Made from 96% recycled quality for themselves. glass, the lightweight Sto Glass rainscreen cladding system can also be finished with solar photovoltaic cells, enabling them to To find out more about cladding and façades from Berry Systems or to contribute renewable energy to the building. ask for samples, call 01902 491100 or email: sales@berrysystems.co.uk

Architects no longer view car parks as just a functional necessity. Many are fully expressing their creative skills to turn multistorey car parks into aesthetically interesting and artistically acclaimed structures, as can be seen in Berry Systems’ work at the Eastside car park in Birmingham

The exterior cladding of Banbury Station car park in Oxfordshire was designed by Berry Systems to help the building blend into its locale. The car park’s impact was reduced by the use of Sto Glass panels for the exterior cladding. Residential properties opposite the car park are reflected on the walls of the four-storey structure