Boar Lane, Leeds: Car Park Wayfinding

Brief: Car Park Wayfinding & Supergraphics
Client: Landsec
Sector: Car Parks

Land Securities purchased this multi-storey car park, shortly before Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre opened. Not only is it located a short-walk from the shopping centre, it also needed completely refurbishing. Therefore, as part of the car park wayfinding brief, The Velvet Principle was tasked with establishing a clear connection with the shopping centre.

With eight floors and split-level parking on each, mechanisms to help shoppers find their car was a key priority. Given this complexity, we opted to use a mix of colour, number and image to act as memory cues.

Consequently, each floor was allocated a distinctive colour, which is applied to the columns and core walls. The floor number is marked on the internal columns and by bold graphics at the pedestrian exits. With exits on two sides of the car park, the ones nearest to the shopping centre are marked by graffiti-style, anamorphic supergraphics. These extend across the core wall to the pedestrian walkway, playing off the various architectural features.

This mix of vibrant colours, bold graphics and playful illustrations create a welcoming environment. Importantly they also provide three different aide memoires, that cater for different learning preferences.

An external Trinity T logo sign, in mirror-polished stainless steel, echoes the design of the entrance identification sign on the main entrance to the mall. Providing a direct link between the car park and shopping centre. Internally the graffiti images include visual references to the distinctive roof, which defines the shopping centre architecture. The result is a car park wayfinding scheme that: