Car Park Architecture Doesn’t Have to Be Boring — Here’s Why

When you imagined your future as an architect, you probably weren’t dreaming about car parks.
We get it. Multistorey parking structures rarely top the list of exciting design commissions.

But before you write them off, it’s worth reconsidering what these projects can offer. Over the years, we’ve partnered with architects who have transformed car parks into expressive, intelligent, and unexpected pieces of architecture. With the right approach, these utilitarian structures become opportunities for creativity, innovation, and real impact on the urban fabric.

Below, we look at three standout examples that prove car park design can be both challenging and rewarding—often in ways you don’t anticipate.

1. Designing for Purpose (and Thinking Beyond the Obvious)

Car parks are often seen as purely functional structures—places designed to move cars in and out with minimal fuss. But the Frankston Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) shows what’s possible when a project is driven by purpose and elevated by creative thinking. Rather than settling for the expected, the design team embraced a façade solution that enhances performance, safety and the visual character of the surrounding precinct.

A Façade Engineered for More Than Looks

The finished Frankston MSCP features a carefully considered combination of Webforge Locker’s perforated and solid tray sunscreen panels, paired with Ingal Civil Products crash barriers. Each element was chosen not just for its structural role, but for how it contributes to a safer, more comfortable and more aesthetically impressive environment.

The perforated panels support excellent airflow throughout the car park, reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and improving air quality for users. Meanwhile, the blend of solid tray panels adds depth, shadow and contrast—creating a façade that feels dynamic rather than purely utilitarian.

Combined with the Ingal Civil Products crash barrier system, the façade works on multiple levels: it protects, it ventilates, it performs, and it stands out.

This is what thinking beyond the obvious looks like in practice: allowing engineering and design to work in harmony, and using every surface—no matter how humble—as an opportunity for impact.

2. Contributing to the Cityscape

As Australian cities continue to densify, multistorey car parks are here to stay. Their large façades present an incredible opportunity for architects to shape the urban identity.

A striking example of this is the Young Street Car Park in Adelaide. Designed by Cheesman Architects, the project uses 525 perforated panels from Webforge Locker Pic Perf® range to create a breathtaking image of the Shanghai skyline across the entire frontage.

Pic Perf was designed with exactly this kind of creative expression in mind—perforations that not only provide ventilation but also act as a canvas for large-scale imagery. In a structure that could have easily faded into the background, the architects instead delivered a bold, memorable landmark that brings art into the everyday cityscape.

Ventilation was also a practical priority. The open perforation pattern prevents the space from becoming hot and humid, especially during peak Adelaide summers.

3. Making a Visual Statement

Featuring Webforge Locker + Ingal Civil Products

As part of the $619 million Stage 2 Redevelopment of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the new multi-storey car park has been designed not just as a parking structure, but as a long-term piece of essential infrastructure that supports accessibility, safety, and environmental performance.

Central to the car park’s architectural identity is the 6,500m² perforated metal façade supplied by Webforge Locker. The custom Pic Perf® panels provide natural ventilation and soft daylight filtration while creating a visually dynamic exterior. Integrated directly into this façade is Webforge Locker’s Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system, offering a clean and efficient way to generate renewable energy without compromising design intent. This blend of performance and aesthetics contributes meaningfully to the project’s ongoing sustainability goals.

Safety and Strength Through Collaboration

Safety is a core element of any high-traffic facility, and the project team partnered with Ingal Civil Products to deliver proven, reliable protection.

• Ingal Civil’s Crash Barrier System enhances vehicle and pedestrian safety throughout the structure, ensuring long-lasting performance in a demanding environment.
• A dedicated fall arrest system, also supplied by Ingal, provides ongoing protection for maintenance teams—supporting the hospital’s commitment to safe operational practices.

This integrated approach demonstrates how Webforge Locker and Ingal Civil Products work together to provide complementary, future-focused solutions.

The Westmead Children’s Hospital car park stands as a strong example of how thoughtful design, innovative products, and collaborative partnerships can create infrastructure that supports the community today and well into the future.

Reframing the Humble Car Park

These three projects prove that designing a car park is anything but mundane. The challenges often push architects into new territory: refining privacy, enhancing city identity, or crafting a signature façade. And through close collaboration, manufacturers like Locker Group can adapt and evolve products to meet the specific needs of each build.

When a seemingly simple project becomes more complex than expected, having a trusted supplier at your side makes all the difference.

If you’d like to explore how our experience and product range can support your next architectural project, get in touch with our team today.