- Bicycle-loving Amsterdam created underground bike garage inspired by Apple Store design language.
- The facility features neat rows of bicycle racks and warm wood panelling.
- It also has a revolving door reminiscent of the Fifth Avenue Apple Store.
- The theme of the garage is “water” with aspects built underwater.
The city of Amsterdam is known for its bicycle-loving culture and the city recently opened a pair of underground bike garages at Amsterdam Central Station in early 2023, inspired by the modern aesthetic of the Apple Store. The Ijboulevard bike garage, designed by VenhoevenCS, makes use of curved pieces of wood and smart lighting choices to produce a warm and inviting atmosphere. Photographs by Sebastiaan de With reveal the facility to be similar to the style of an Apple Store, with a revolving door reminiscent of the circular hydraulic elevator of the Fifth Avenue Apple Store.
The second garage exchanges the wood in favor of a much cleaner white appearance, with elements that hint that the facility is under a river, such as porthole-like ceiling decorations. Despite the upmarket nature of the garages, they are not expensive to use. Storing a bike at the garage is free for the first 24 hours and only 1.35 euros ($1.48) per day after that. This is intended to reduce the number of bikes stored on streets and tidy up roads while encouraging their use.
