The World's Most Cycle-friendly Building

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Permalink Reply by LS on January 29, 2012 at 20:16

I've been there!  Twice.  Didnt get to cycle down it though. We stayed about 1.5 miles away in Orestad, close to the Mountain Dwellings which I think are by the same architects (BIG). I keep meaning to post some photos, will do soon.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on January 29, 2012 at 21:37

That is amazing. The spaces in front of the apartments seem very useful. Much better than the designs of apartments in Birmingham - such as Park Central - where occupants move from the main door to their apartment door with all possible haste, so discouraging social interaction.

At one point, she did have to do some rather sharp turning around an s-bend, though. And those right at the top of the building might appreciate using lifts to get to the top, especially when it is raining hard or too windy.

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Permalink Reply by LS on January 29, 2012 at 21:46

At one end there is a steep staircase from the top all the way down which was quite daunting. The lifts are well hidden and presumably for residents only. The area is a bit like Park Central but much much better.

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Permalink Reply by LS on January 29, 2012 at 22:52

Bikes parked at 8-House. Not locked to stands. Only a few blown over by wind as it was August.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Ingram on January 29, 2012 at 23:18

I like the look of this place. I haven't seen Park Central other than photos on the net but I was thinking that a smaller version of this is how the apartments alongside the MAC should've been built. If only...

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Permalink Reply by LS on January 30, 2012 at 1:01

The apartment block by the MAC on NCN 5 has a huge underground car park. Range Rovers, BMWs etc are essential as it is 2 miles from the city centre.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Ingram on January 30, 2012 at 6:57

Quite so!

LS said:

The apartment block by the MAC on NCN 5 has a huge underground car park. Range Rovers, BMWs etc are essential as it is 2 miles from the city centre.

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on January 30, 2012 at 9:30

Are those blocks by the MAC a prison?

Do the people there have to wear security braclets, and aren't they allowed to drive their Range Rovers to the seaside at weekends?

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on January 30, 2012 at 9:38

Where are the roofs on the bike sheds? The people obviously don't give a toss about their bikes.

LS said:

Bikes parked at 8-House. Not locked to stands. Only a few blown over by wind as it was August.

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Permalink Reply by Lucas on January 30, 2012 at 10:20

The article that I was reading did say that there are lifts specifically designed to carry bikes, although it didn't mention anything about it being residents only. I'm not sure that I would leave my bike unlocked even if it is the norm, just wouldn't feel right to me. Perhaps if we lived in a society where bikes were commonplace and everyone had one then there would be less theft and people would feel more secure. But for the time being..... D-Loock

Lucas

Chris said:

That is amazing. The spaces in front of the apartments seem very useful. Much better than the designs of apartments in Birmingham - such as Park Central - where occupants move from the main door to their apartment door with all possible haste, so discouraging social interaction.

At one point, she did have to do some rather sharp turning around an s-bend, though. And those right at the top of the building might appreciate using lifts to get to the top, especially when it is raining hard or too windy.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Reeve on January 30, 2012 at 10:20

what a fantastic piece of architecture, i wonder if the one's at the bottom are more expensive so your don't have to cycle too far?

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Permalink Reply by Chris on January 30, 2012 at 10:41

Where bikes are more common, thefts of bikes are also more common.

I think those people have locked their bikes through the wheels, to stop people riding them off, but they won't have locked them to the stands, to stop people carrying them off. The bikes will have inbuilt locks fitted to the frames which go through the back wheel, to stop it turning - so that you never forget your lock. The downside is that this kind of lock can not lock the bike to anything - of course, if the bike has a stand on it, then you very often don't stand it next to anything to lock it.

But the bikes will be cheap enough that a certain level of bike theft is seen as an acceptable (if irritating) part of everyday life.

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