Amsterdam has been working for decades on a city in which cycling is an integral part of daily life, but the bicycle infrastructure under the water, next to Centraal Station takes that concept to a whole new level. Immediately under the canal basin in front of the historic station building is the new parking facility, which accommodates thousands of bicycles without obstructing the waterfront above in sight or sound. The $65 million project, part of the larger De Entree redevelopment, was designed by wUrck studios, and incorporates challenging civil engineering, as well as an architectural strategy that makes a massive underground transport facility surprisingly light and welcoming.

The project was developed to address the problem that had come to be unsustainable and increasingly hard to ignore around Amsterdam Centraal. Thousands of bikes filled up space at street level creating congestion and making it more difficult for people to walk and otherwise use the station. The waterfront was freed up by moving the parking area below water, while still maintaining proximity of cycling to the station. Rather than bicycle parking being an add-on to the transportation system, the project will be a significant component of the overall transportation system, in addition to Amsterdam’s rail, metro, tram, ferry and bus services.

The collaboration of engineering and architecture is particularly significant. The building is over nine meters under water, but inside it is bathed in daylight, its halls and passages are clearly laid out, and there is digital guidance and direct access to public transport. It’s not just a space where bikes vanish under the earth. It is a well designed transit space designed to facilitate the commuters’ everyday travel, and the re-opened surface area will create an open and inviting waterfront around one of Amsterdam’s most popular stations.

1. Establishing a Bicycle Garage Under the water

The building of a large bike parking area under an active body of water next to a large railway station was an unusually complicated construction process. The scheme, which involved installation of heavy sheet piles around the basin, was completed in four years. Such piles defined the limits of excavation which enabled operations at depths of around 10 meters below the ground surface. The excavation was particularly challenging as it was situated next to a large transport center and adjacent to water.

Complex Construction:

• Excavation boundaries were created with heavy sheet piles.
• Tugging was done about ten meters below the ground.
• The underwater concrete has been used to provide a stable base.
• Prefabricated columns were brought in via barge.
• The structure was supported by reinforced concrete.

Construction sequence was carefully planned to take advantage of the site conditions. Once the depth was reached, the area was still full of water, and a thick layer of unenforced underwater concrete was poured in a single pour. After the concrete had hardened enough the water was pumped out to expose the working area for the subsequent construction work.

Upon completion of the excavation, a reinforced concrete floor was installed and foundation structure was built above it. Prefabricated columns were assembled and placed on the barge and delivered to the site to support the extremely heavy concrete roof. This is an unusual mode of construction in response to the needs of the building below water in an already developed urban context, where the solution adopted in the surface would not have been possible.

2. A Concept for Architecture Inspired by Oyster

The building’s design is inspired by the surrounding water environment. wUrck studios created an oyster metaphor, which extends from the exterior entry to the main subterranean parking area. The design does not seek to subdue the building, rather it provides it with a unique architectural presence. The rough basalt stone entrance and the textured flowing wall makes a visual link to the historic quay above.

Oyster-Inspired Design:

• The concept of oyster was designed to link up the outside with the inside.
• A rugged entrance is made by rough basalt.
• Smooth interior contrasts with exterior.
• Parker’s parking hall features white ceilings that illuminate the space.
• Clean surfaces keep the texture of concrete.

The rugged exterior treatment makes for a calculated contrast to the experiences of those inside. As soon as they cross the entrance, the cyclists step into a much smoother and brighter environment. The interior is finished with a cast concrete wall and a wooden coated floor, which were all lightly refined with a texture created by the wooden form work. The materials used ensure that the space is kept clean, aesthetically pleasing, and don’t have a very industrial feel.

The oyster concept is thus more than just a decorative reference. It presents a straightforward story in architecture, an outer shell and an interior that is light. The degree of attention given to the design in such a mostly bicycle storage facility helps to build the connection between infrastructure and public space. The outcome is not just dug and packed with parking stalls, it is made for an intended purpose.

3. Taking Daylight Deep Below the Surface

One of the most difficult aspects of designing a more than nine meters under water installation for cyclists was keeping the garage from becoming a closed and dark space. This is achieved in the design with a monumental entrance comprising of a tall glass interior wall adjacent an access ramp. Glazing provides good light penetration through large surface areas to reach deep into the underground facility. This allows the person to feel a sense of the world outside as they’re going down into the garage.

Comfortable Circulation:

• Light enters through monumental glass entrance.
• The large glazing links the underground spaces.
• Automatic walkways make moving around easier for bike riders.
• Sturdier materials ensure everyday traffic flow.
• The Open Design offers enhanced comfort for commuters.

The descent is kept simple for commuters every day. Smooth automatic rolling walkways are employed rather than stairs or hard surfaces when riders are transporting their bicycles. The circulation areas are made of natural stone, basalt, polished brass and other hard materials. The details add to this impression, as this is a well-planned public area, not just a simple, underground storage facility.

In a building that is designed to see many commuters, the importance of light and movement should be emphasized. The open architectural treatment makes the space between the city surface and the underground parking feel less abrupt, and the reduction of circulation during busy times helps to alleviate confusion. It’s a mere part of the day’s journey that has been made more comfortable with the design.

4. On-the-Spot Maintenance of Thousands of Bicycles

There’s more to having thousands of bikes stored in a facility than simply physical space for the bikes. If there was no way to indicate where available parking would be, riders would waste valuable time looking for a spot to park. Amsterdam’s solution is fully digital throughout the facilities, even before cyclists get down the stairs. Large blue signs displaying illuminated green numbers tell the approaching riders whether there is an available space before they enter the garage.

Smart Access:

• LED signs indicate empty parking space availability.
• The OV-chipkaart makes it easier to access facilities.
• When Chipped Fietstag is used, it will allow automatic recognition.
• LED indicators identify open bicycle spaces.
• Everyone appreciates the added convenience of being guided by a picture.

The access is also organized based on fast digital identification. On the check-in spot an OV-chipkaart can be used, on a bicycle with a chipped Fietstag it can be identified without having to pass the rider the card again and again. Inside, LED indicators on the walls are located on vertical columns and display red and green lights indicating free parking. Bicyclists can easily spot from afar where parking is available.

This system is particularly valuable in a high volume station where small delays can add up quickly. The cyclists are given information during the parking process rather than in a large hall, row by row. Digital signs, automated identification and space indicators make this a more organized flow and make a massive bicycle-storage space a comprehensible section of the transit trip.

5. The Direct Line to Amsterdam Centraal station

The underwater garage is not a stand-alone bicycle facility. Because of its location under the station area it is well connected with Amsterdam’s public transport system. The building is underground connected with the Metro hall and train platforms of Amsterdam Centraal. This puts the bike park in close proximity to the station and makes it a part of the transportation system.

Easy Transit Access:

• A direct connection with Amsterdam Centraal is available from Garage.
• Underground routes leading to metro facilities get to them.
• It is easy for cyclists to get on and off the train.
• Sheltered connections help to defend against weather.
• Bicycle parking is linked to multimodal trips.

The far end of the garage is also equipped with escalators which enable bicyclists to unload their bikes and enter the transit hub directly. The commuters do not have to come back to the street level to get to a train or metro line. The sheltered route also keeps users sheltered from the sometimes unpredictable conditions of Amsterdam and makes the journey from cycling to public transportation easier.

This relationship is important because the garage is not just a bicycle parking area. The underground bicycle facility is an additional layer in the network of stations that are accessible by their various modes of transport: train, ferry, tram, bus, subway. The project reduces the physical distance between bicycles and transit platforms, resulting in a more seamless transportation experience between multiple modes.

6. The Glass Service Center at the Heart of the Garage  

The center of the underground hall is an administrative and bicycle service point, made of curved glass and in the center. It is set near the main reception which allows staff to have a wide perspective of the entire building. This makes the central hub a functional service station along with being an important place of supervision. The clear shape is also appropriate to the architectural language of the project, which is inspired by the oyster.

Central Service Hub:

• A central hub of curved glass structure.
• Commuter assistance is available at service center.
• The creation of transparency in the design of facilities increases facility visibility.
• Use central pavilion to create visual focus.
• The staff support the daily operations of the facility.

The glass pavilion is said to be the ‘metaphorical pearl’ within the ‘smooth interior shell’ formed by the surrounding architecture. The curved design offers a visual focus in a very large area, and helps cyclists see when assistance is needed. The architectural impetus creates a sense of identity for the main service area, rather than it blending into the adjacent parking rows.

In addition, the service center is also an important position for daily work. Staff members are on site and available to support commuters and visitors while staff and cleaners work to maintain the space, which is open 24-hours a day. Tourists and other users without the regular Dutch transit card can also use loan passes. These supervision, maintenance and customer support aspects ensure the vast subterranean complex is open to a wide variety of cyclists.

7. Integrating the OV-Fiets Bikeshare Network

The garage is designed to accommodate more than privately owned bicycles. It features 700 bicycle parking spaces from the national OV-Fiets bikeshare program. The familiar blue and yellow bike is built right into the facility. Shared mobility can thus complement the use of personal bikes for daily commuters and unite various types of cycling in the same transportation context.

Bikeshare Integration:

• The facilities for 700 OV-Fiets are provided in dedicated space.
• Shared bicycles run alongside user owned bikes.
• Bikeshare has direct links to the rail network.
• After arriving some commuters go to the bikes once they are there.
• Multimodal travel becomes easier.

This is to reinforce the link between rail travel and the last leg of a trip. When a train arrives a passenger can park in the underground garage and get on an OV-Fiets bicycle without the necessity of making another trip in the city. The bicycle could then serve as a link between the station and a work site, neighborhood, or other point that is not directly accessible by train.

The bikeshare fleet is also housed in the same facility to illustrate the shared use of one well planned space by multiple modes of transportation. Trains, metros and bicycles blend into a seamless transport system, lowering the friction that can deter people from using public transit and bike together. The layout provides a realistic illustration of how an urban centre could enable multimodal transportation of passengers more easily without an excessive dependence on private cars.

8. Restoring the Waterfront Above 

The thousands of bicycles below have a significant impact on the cityscape above. Bicycle parking, in and around Centraal Station, used to lead to a congested waterfront with numerous racks, parked bikes and broken bikes/cycles. Moving this massive amount of bikes back underground frees up the space and reclaims public space for pedestrians, visitors and those with mobility challenges. The underground solution thus has an impact on transport and the waterfront’s look.

Waterfront Renewal:

• Thousands of bikes rolled below ground.
• Waterfront areas were made more open.
• Six-thousand-square-meter promenade added.
• Widening pedestrian paths.
• Major enhancements to surface infrastructure were made.

The bicycle garage is part of the broader urban renewal project called De Entree which reinvents the public space around the station. A large 6,000 square meter waterfront promenade has been created, and surrounding facilities have been revitalized and widened for pedestrians. The tram tracks have also been redesigned and the space has become more accessible for the public in general.

The change alters the waterfront-station connection. The city has relocated bicycle storage below the street level and reallocated the street space to movement and public life rather than bicycle parking. This will create a cleaner, more open environment that will show more of the historic character of the area without compromising the prevalence of Amsterdam’s cycling culture.

9. Affordable Access and Efficient Turnover 

The facility will be to accommodate regular riders and not as a long term repository for discarded bicycles. Cycling parking is free for the first 24 hours, and then €1.35 ($1.46) per day. This pricing policy makes it affordable for commuters to park their bikes for a limited amount of time and provides an incentive for them to pick up their bikes rather than leaving them unchecked.

Affordable Parking:

• The first 24 hours are free of charge.
• Daily fee fosters turnover of bicycles.
• A secure check-in is made easy thanks to the OV-chipkaart.
• Bicycle recognition is available at Fietstag.
• Green check-in means successful check-in.

The access process is created to ensure riders’ efficient movement. The cyclists use either an OV-chipkaart at the check-in point or a chipped Fietstag on their bicycle. After the system has identified the bicycle, a number of signals are visible in the immediate vicinity, such as a green light indicator and the message “Fiets ingecheckt!” This minimises unhelpful queuing at the entrance and decreases queues during peak times.

Simple pricing and speedy access is a reflection of the facility’s role as a daily transportation infrastructure. Commuters have the opportunity to park their bikes in a secure, purpose-built facility without a complicated process to access the bicycle and high short-term costs. The garage contributes to the objective of making cycling a regular way to get around in Amsterdam, through the convenience and predictability of bicycle parking at Amsterdam Centraal.

10. A Model for Multimodal Urban Mobility 

This bike garage is an example of a new idea in urban transportation: where bicycle and public transportation are considered part of the same system and planned as such. Amsterdam’s mobility strategy has always been based on minimizing car usage and this project is a great example of the integration of bicycle infrastructure into high capacity transportation. Thousands of bicycle parking spaces are located near rail, tram, ferry, metro and bus access, allowing riders to multitrip using bicycle and other modes.

Integrated Mobility:

• Bicycling and mass transit complement each other.
• A number of thousands of spaces are available to commuters.
• There are multiple modes of transport connecting in the underground.
• Underground parking adds up to the surface area.
• Help cities to improve urban mobility by adopting cleaner solutions.

The project also demonstrates the need for more than bike lanes to make cycling a viable mode of transportation. Bikes require locations where they can be parked easily, access to convenient transit, accessible access mechanisms, and open areas where bicycling blends into the rest of the city. The underground bike parking system brings many benefits – it relieves traffic congestion and improves the quality of the urban environment above.

Some things are still in need of improvements. It is not dedicated for heavy cargo bicycles or charging points for e-bikes, which could be increasingly important as the types of bicycles increase. Despite this, the overall project illustrates what can be achieved in terms of ambitious infrastructure which is made up of engineering, architecture, accessibility and transport planning. The garage, which sits beneath the waters of the canal, is a carefully crafted and integrated aspect of the city, and an example of how infrastructure can enable cleaner mobility, while also enhancing the public space over it.