Knowingly or unknowingly, most people wish for grand constructions, whether a home or a car park. We put much focus on aesthetics and innovative solutions. While this is nothing bad, sometimes we only need something purely functional.
The best example would be a car park construction. You may still embellish it with unique features, but they will mean nothing in certain situations. Say, a car park for worn-out buildings should be minimalistic. You don’t have to splurge a lot and make it fully automatic. Apart from this example, you can have many other reasons to make your car park construction in Melbourne minimalistic and sustainable.
If so, here’s how you plan the project.
1. The Purpose of the Car Park
Before anything else, you or your contractor must identify the purpose of your project. Many aspects of construction depend on finding the true purpose of your car park construction in Melbourne, such as design and features.
Your first question is, “Is it a retail, commercial, or community parking lot?” The nature of the parking lot defines the size, thickness, and overall layout of the lot. Let’s say it’s for parking large vehicles, such as trucks with shipping loads. In this case, the asphalt holds huge weight throughout the day; hence it needs more depth than usual.
Moreover, the purpose also tells you how innovative you can get with it. You can’t go far above or below this, as it can affect the functionality of the car park.
2. Site Analysis
After finding the real purpose of your car park, you must have your contractor conduct a site analysis. It’s crucial to the planning process of any construction project, including car parks. The analysis includes examining the size, topography, soil conditions, legal constraints, access points, etc.
Behind this analysis, project managers and engineers will identify potential challenges and opportunities associated with it. This data will help them in decision-making regarding design and construction methods.
Overall, your project’s efficiency, feasibility, and legal compliance rely on performing a thorough site analysis.
3. Conceptual Car Park Design
With site analysis, you will have a strong foundational understanding of your project. Now, you move to the most important element of your car park construction in Melbourne — Designing the layout.
The main objective of this is to turn project requirements into a visual representation. During this stage, you have many aspects to consider, but the most essential are as follows:
- Safety
- Aesthetics
- Access points
- Space utilisation
- Pedestrian traffic
Your contractor comes up with a conceptual design with all these and more aspects in mind. Therefore, investing time and effort into this stage is vital for establishing a clear design vision and laying the foundation for a cohesive project outcome.
4. Material Specifications
Not all car park constructions are made of the same materials in Melbourne. Depending on the project requirements, you can alter the kind of material used for surfacing and structural design.
Conventionally, asphalt is preferred for most car park surfaces, but you have plenty of other options, from concrete to gravel to hybrid. Different materials have unique properties, so you can pick the one that suits your need.
For example, permeable pavers allow rainwater to infiltrate through the surface, while gravel is better suited for low-traffic or temporary parking spaces. In the same way, you can also choose your car park’s structural material. It can be concrete, steel, wood, or any composite material.
5. Safety and Security Features
You may or may not include high-end features like automated parking systems or vehicle recognition technology. They are dispensable to most projects. However, safety remains indispensable in all.
Some crucial aspects your car park design and construction in Melbourne should address are as follows:
- Drainage provisions: Installation of correct drainage systems can prevent damage to the underlying soil.
- Access ramps: Ramps leading from the pedestrian entrance to the lot to the shared handicapped access aisles are vital, for instance.
- Lighting design: Improper placement of light fixtures can glare and cause interference with drivers’ vision. Thus, sufficient care must be taken in this aspect.
Without the above elements, the safety and security of your parking space will always be in jeopardy. Some other minimalistic security additions are surveillance cameras and emergency call boxes. These are small additions that improve the user experience a notch further.
6. Accessibility
Being minimalistic doesn’t mean ignoring a section of users. Your car park should be equally accessible to all, including people with disabilities. It is an essential part of your project.
A designated disabled parking space, accessible ramps, and properly marked pathways are necessary. You must ensure sufficient compliance with accessibility standards and regulations to provide equal access and convenience.
In Australia, curb ramps should be provided where there are surface-level changes, ensuring a painless transition between access points, footpaths, and parking areas. Your kerb and channel contractor can give you better insights into this.
Final Thoughts
You will have these six vital steps in a minimalistic car park construction in Melbourne. Minimalists prioritise functionality over extravagance. Keep this in mind when you are planning your car park project.
Roadseal Civil is the best contractor for car park construction. Their work style is so satisfying that you would be sure of the best possible result. They have decades of experience in these works, so you can trust them with your project.
