Amid rapid shifts in mobility and the decline in personal car ownership across major European cities, developers are proposing an innovative solution: above-ground parking structures designed to be converted, within a few years, into commercial or residential spaces.

Instead of rigid, difficult-to-adapt buildings, these parking facilities are conceived from the design stage with increased interior heights, wider spans between columns, and infrastructure pre-fitted for future utilities. Practically, these are multifunctional buildings that can begin as parking garages and later be transformed into offices, housing, or service spaces.

The benefits are clear: cities no longer have to allocate valuable land for permanent parking facilities, and investors can quickly convert the space depending on market demand. Moreover, the concept aligns with sustainability principles — the same structure can serve different functions over 30–50 years, without demolition or complete reconstruction.

For Romania, this model could be useful in neighborhoods where there is currently pressure for parking spaces, but where long-term forecasts indicate growing demand for housing or commercial areas. A first pilot project could emerge in cities with congested centers and active urban regeneration plans.

(Photo: Freepik)