KHR Architecture has developed a wayfinding strategy for a number of By & Havn's car parks in Copenhagen with a focus on recognisability and user-friendliness. The concept makes it easy to find your way - no matter which car park you arrive at. In the Bjerget car park, however, a special version has been developed that respects the building's distinctive architecture and visual identity. The existing colour palette and typography have been retained and refreshed, while the wayfinding has been updated with new pictograms, floor markings and clear landmarks. The result is a system that is both site-specific and recognisable across the city.
Ørestad, Copenhagen
Denmark
City & Harbour
2024
6-level multi-storey car park
Wayfinding
"We worked with the wayfinding as a visual and functional layer that supports the existing architecture - without overpowering it."
Digital and analogue orientation
The car park will have info screens that replace a large number of small and disparate signs. This combines analogue, physical wayfinding with a flexible digital layer that can be updated as needed.
Clear floor marking and driving logic
Directional arrows and parking spaces on the floor will be repainted in black and adjusted for better readability and functionality. At the same time, information about the number of parking spaces and electric charging points is added to the black directional signs. The course of the arrows is redesigned to improve driving logic and ensure smooth traffic flow.
Challenges in existing wayfinding and deployed solution
1. Stair towers are difficult to identify →
Each tower is marked with a distinct colour on the walls, ceiling and door. The floor is shown with mega-graphics and a stair pictogram on the door.
2. Lifts are hard to find →
Lifts are highlighted with coloured walls and graphic markings on the doors. Disabled parking is moved closer to the lift in tower 6.
3. Lack of floor markings makes it difficult to find the car →
Floor markings are clearly painted on pillars and floors at each descent.
4. Exit and payment signs are outdated →
"Exit" is changed to "EXIT" to accommodate international user group and coin payment pictogram is removed.
5. Information about available seats is missing →
Number of available parking spaces and electric charging points are added on directional signs.
6. Automatic payment machines are hard to spot →
Walls behind vending machines are painted in bright colours for increased visibility.
7. Too many small and different signs →
Info screens bring together and replace the many small signs.
8. Worn floor markings and unclear pictograms →
Markings and pictograms are repainted and updated with a clearer design.
9. Narrow passage and worn slopes at entrance/exit →
Slopes and bollards are removed, new screening is installed, and arrow courses on the floor are redesigned.
Stair towers as landmarks
The eight stair towers play a key role in orientation and are highlighted with distinct colours that are repeated in walls, doors and ceilings. Each core has its own colour so users can quickly identify where they are. Stairway pictograms and floor markings in white foil are applied to the doors of the stair towers, making it easy to find your way back to your car.
Clear floor labelling
To make it easier to locate your car, all floor decks are clearly labelled with floor markings - on columns, walls and floors. The markings are done as mega-graphics or painted numbers, centred on ramps and visible from the direction of travel. This way you automatically orientate yourself as you move around the floor, which is smarter and more efficient than having to go to an overview board to find information.
