Parkhaus

Parkhaus, the German term for a multi‑storey car park, denotes a building or structure designed for the temporary storage of motor vehicles. Typically located in urban centres, near railway stations, shopping complexes, or cultural venues, parkhäuser aim to maximise parking capacity on limited ground space by stacking vehicles vertically across several floors.

Construction materials vary, ranging from reinforced concrete and steel frameworks to prefabricated modules. Modern parkhäuser often incorporate automated systems such as ticket dispensers, barrier gates, and electronic displays showing available spaces. Some facilities employ fully robotic parking, where drivers leave a vehicle at an entry point and an automated system transports it to a storage slot, thereby reducing the required floor area per car.

Revenue is generally generated through hourly or daily fees, with rates adjusted for location, demand, and service level. Discount schemes for residents, commuters, or electric‑vehicle owners are common, as are incentives for car‑sharing users. Environmental measures increasingly feature in parkhaus design: ventilation systems to mitigate exhaust fumes, lighting based on motion sensors, and integration of solar panels or green roofs to offset energy consumption.

From a planning perspective, parkhäuser are subject to municipal zoning regulations, fire safety codes, and accessibility requirements, including designated spaces for persons with reduced mobility. In many cities they form part of broader mobility strategies, linking private car use with public transport and encouraging modal shift through park‑and‑ride concepts.

Overall, the parkhaus serves as a pivotal element in contemporary urban infrastructure, balancing the need for vehicle accommodation with spatial efficiency, safety, and evolving sustainability standards.