Land+Living: Lofty Automotive Ideas

Architecture — March 8, 2006 Posted by Nico

German Architects are about to build the first Car Loft.

The acropolis of transportation engineering and home of arguably the greatest four wheel creations in history has taken the next step towards composing the ultimate ode to the automobile: the car loft. German architects Manfred Dick (who sought a patent for his concept) and Johannes Kauka are about to break ground for what promises to be a wet and steamy dream for car enthusiasts and safety minded yuppies alike.

Link: CarLoft [Thanks, Mom!]
Link: Heuer (pdf)

CarLoft©

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No longer are you required to park your Z8 alongside that wannabe with the M3 in the common undergound garage of the central Berlin bulding where your sleak modernist loft is located. Now you drive straight on into the car elevator (that promises to even be able to fit a Bentley… I TOLD you not to buy that ugly Hummer, man! What? You saw an ad in Dwell and you thought… geeesh!), push the button, and off you go into a Jetsonian futurama dream of parking your car outside your penthouse. The architects point out that safety and comfort are two of the major advantages that come with this garage concept. Unloading the groceries and the twins is now easier than ever (for the nanny), and your family is better protected from kidnapping or carjacking attempts (at home, if you only have one car…), which is why there seems to be a lot of interest from Israel and Russia for this idea.

CarLoft©

Ultimately, this is a pretty cool gimmick, hands down. The claims that it is more economically viable in certain inner city situations is probably based on creative accounting for the most part, but economies of scale might push this into a more affordable realm in the near future (i.e. cell phones…). And, if you cannot sleep at night, you can always go and sit in your Bugatti, and dream about flying in it… before you kiss it good night. However, if these Swiss grass powered cars are able to fly too, then the demand for this concept might run into some trouble shortly.

20 comments

Comments (20)

Michael — March 8, 2006
mpf

Nice idea. Jared Diamond says societies are falling apart, like the Incas (etc.) when an elite is not sharing the same consequences as the rest of society. (clean air, water etc.)This tops really everything.

Lloyd Alter — March 9, 2006

This is not a new idea- they did it in Chicago 75 years ago at 35 East Wacker. "Formerly known as Jewellers Building, Pure Oil Building and the North American Life Building, it was created for the city’s diamond merchants and had an unusual security procedure. To reduce the chances that its tenants would be mugged walking between their cars and their offices, the building featured a central auto elevator. People would drive into this elevator and there were parking garages on the second through twenty-second floors. Jewellers loaded down with precious stones and metals wouldn’t have to be exposed to a potentially hostile exterior environment." http://usa.archiseek.com/illinois/chicago/35_east_wacker_drive.html

AHA — March 17, 2006
We can alla buy nice cars after this

good idea to save parking seats from the roads.

hh — March 17, 2006
time to buy a new, nice looking car, so we ll be able to watch it keep an eye on while enjoing tv and cup of coffee

eco-carrorist — March 21, 2006
agree w/ mpf

Yeah. I think that is the real problem in society. Its pretty bad. Every day you hear more about climate problems from scientists. But putting my car hat back on. This is pretty cool! Too bad it probably costs a fortune, all for the convenience of not having to exert lots of effort RIDING THE ELEVATOR to your apartment. found your article on <a href="motor.crispynews.com">http://motor.crispynews.com</a>

varun t — March 23, 2006
good but not energy efficient

well the concept is good for handicaps..and makes design more flexible for sure.. wonder if there are some energy efficient methods to implement the same idea?

Yianni Bellis — April 2, 2006
this is wonderful

what a great idea.

paul dela paz — April 11, 2006
What a great idea!

what a brilliant idea excellent i like it, ur car is always safe, no problem with the parking

teejay — April 13, 2006
it'll be my husband and my dream come true...

we're living in an apartment right now. it is quite difficult for us to park our car so far away from us because we are the true car lovers. this will be a great accomplishment. car lovers can take care of their cars and show off their cars in the 'garage' right by their living rooms.

Regy — April 19, 2006
Great Idea?

It's really a new idea but not so great if we think in a building with say 8 floors and when in the morning everyone is trying to get to work at (almost) the same time!!! If the elevator hangs with a neighbour in it, upss!!! No joy ride for you!!

power of attorney — May 17, 2006
Good site

Very good site.

al capp — January 29, 2007
agree with regy

unless I'm missing something,if there's a limited number of elevators, I can't imagine the nightmare of getting in & out of your carpark in the am & pm. if theres a way to overcome that I think its a great idea

Teekay Owolabi — April 20, 2007
I hope i'm alive when we start living like this

technology and views of what technology should be has advanced so much during these recent years, i personally love the design on the loft and it peeks into the startrek like generation where most things change, with the population increase in most countries these days this would be the best way to curb land deficit and this home design would save alot of space and incorporate a beautiful design as well, thats if you have a nice car, would be extremely efficient

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MUITO BOM

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