Parking Lots
Commercial parking lot designs come in 4 basic varieties, or a combination thereof these 4-
- exterior ground level parking lots surround a business;
- urban parking lots with lifts which allow for cars to be moved vertically for space economy;
- interior parking lots which are multiple stories, either below ground or above ground;
- multiple level exterior or open parking structures.
Green solutions for each type of parking include planting strips for remediation of site contaminants and air quality, coating lifts and building with air cleaning materials, planted walls on the interior and exterior of the site and improved daylighting. Additionally, use of storm water for plants which can run on the wired edges of multi story open parking lots add an element of beautiful water collection, used for plants growing on the wires.
With cars producing specific contaminants, plants which address diesel, metals and car exhaust can improve not only air quality but also the health of the employees who work on these sites. Design solutions include planter strips for exterior ground level parking, wire design for storm water collection and plant growth, green walls, garden on roof, Ti02 application to bricks, windows and other surfaces.
Streetscapes and Neighborhoods
Streetscapes and neighborhoods are extended spaces which can illustrate the values and goals of the community. From simple practices as capturing and re-using grey water, to larger scale building greening and neighborhood plantings- there are many practices which improve the space on a human and community scale.