As part of the ongoing redevelopment of the Mercy Hospital campus in Dunedin, a new carpark was required to provide additional parking on site.

The new parking development occupies the same general area of site as the previous single level carpark. Clear vehicle and pedestrian circulation were key requirements of the brief. As was a seamless integration into the site. There was the challenge - to provide additional parking, make it less obtrusive while working hand in hand with the quiet residential nature of the site.

The solution to maximizing parking numbers was to utilise the fall across the site and develop the structure over three levels. The upper parking area remains level with the residential street edge (as per existing) while the main parking level stretches across the contours of the site with level access from the main driveway. An intermediate level is situated under the upper level, as a semi sub terranean space.

Landscaping is integrated into the structure by way of terraced planters which provide a tree lined driveway and planted ‘fingers’ cut out of the upper and lower parking decks enabling large trees to be grown within the body of the parking structure. These cut outs also provide natural lighting to the lower parking level.

The material palette is restrained – precast concrete, galvanised mesh and painted steelwork. Exposed bluestone aggregate precast panels float off the edge of the top parking deck. Webforge grating provides a contrasting lightweight balustrade elsewhere.

SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT

The sustainability aspects of this project hinge around the way the structure is integrated into the site. The parking requirements dictate large areas of hard surfaces. By minimising the visual effects of such a massive structure and integrating the landscape, any adverse effects are minimised.