The mobility hub as a functional and social hub of the neighborhood

A car-free city with an eye for a pleasant and green living environment, where parking and other functions are clustered in a mobility hub. That is the ambition Continental Car Parks fulfills every day. Flexible, so that the building can be transformed. But also collective and multifunctional, so that the quality and (social) safety of the public space improve. "Our mobility hubs can even be realized energy-producing."

"Our mobility needs are changing rapidly. In large cities in particular, more and more voices are calling for the car to be removed from the streetscape," notes Jeroen Drenth, director of Continental Car Parks. "But also to give public space back to pedestrians, cyclists, children playing and green spaces. A good solution in this context is to no longer park cars next to or behind each other, but to stack them in strategic places in the neighborhood." Continental Car Parks can help with this. The specialist is conquering the market with its mobility hubs, which efficiently combine new and smart forms of mobility with social functions and a high-quality appearance.

Cluster of traffic and facilities 

In Continental Car Parks' mobility hubs, traffic and facilities come together, says project manager Erik de Vries. "Public transport, (shared) bikes, (shared) scooters and (shared) cars can be clustered in one central location with hospitality, retail and offices. But also with, for example, a daycare center, bike shop and/or coffee-to-go." Drenth: "A big advantage for the developer is that general neighborhood functions such as transformer rooms, parcel posts and/or a recycling square can also be added. In addition, by integrating partial mobility, the parking standard can be reduced significantly. And if we design the roof as a green roof, we also contribute to a climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive city."

Elements in Haarlem

Not only in the middle of the city, but also on the outskirts of the neighborhood Continental Car Parks' mobility hubs create space, De Vries emphasizes. "For example, for (green) meeting places in the neighborhood, which becomes nicely visible at the sustainable and modular Elements mobility hub." The former Fluor site in Haarlem is being redeveloped into a green and sustainable urban neighborhood between 2017 and 2023. To ensure that the new and car-free neighborhood remains easily accessible, Continental Car Parks built a multifunctional and scalable mobility hub on the edge of the area. In the plinth of the above-ground parking facility are catering facilities, parcel lockers and spaces for shared mobility. Above that, the hub provides space for 280 cars. Mobility Hub Elements is equipped with electric charging stations and green facades, and the vegetated pergola on the roof is suitable for installing solar panels.

Social function

"Experience shows that our mobility hubs have a positive impact on the streetscape," said De Vries. "This is because removing the car from the streetscape creates space to meet and play. This greatly improves the livability of the neighborhood." Says Drenth, "Because people can park, shop, drink coffee, dine and pick up their packages in one central location, liveliness, interaction and social control are also increased, which automatically makes people feel safer."

WijCK in Pijnacker

The above benefits are coming to fruition excellently in mobility hub WijCK in Pijnacker. An area development in which living, mobility and nature harmonize with exercise was launched in early March. A multicourt and planting will be installed on the roof of the mobility hub. Swings and climbing walls will also be installed so that young and old can exercise together to their hearts' content. There will be spaces for retail, hospitality and shared mobility, and a solar panel field will be installed, generating energy for all 330 WijCK homes. Within the design, there is also a strong focus on climate adaptation, nature inclusiveness and biodiversity.

Modular, circular and demountable

For the construction of its mobility hubs, Continental Car Parks offers four standardized building systems, with which any shape, size and spatial structure can be made. "Regardless of whether one chooses concrete, steel, wood or a combination thereof: our mobility hubs are always modular, circular and easy to convert into living and working space or bicycle parking," says De Vries. "Is no new destination desired? Then the building components can be reused in the chain as separate materials. This allows us to respond flexibly to changing mobility needs. Now and in the future, thus laying a solid foundation for circularity."

BinnenDok in Amsterdam

On the NDSM wharf, Continental Car Parks recently completed a mobility hub with 525 parking spaces and a high-profile gold-colored facade. "What's special about mobility hub BinnenDok is that the first floor is completely filled with commercial spaces, catering and a large bicycle storage area," De Vries explains. "Only from the second floor on is parking set up. The roof is largely filled with solar panels, which generate energy for the adjacent residential buildings. Combined with a green roof garden and ample electric charging spots, this building will also have a central function in the neighborhood."