This is the final installment of our mini-series, examining bicycles in a broader context, primarily encompassing issues related to architecture and urban planning. In the first article, we focused on how the role of bicycles in cities has changed . We then wrote about the unequal battle against cars. The next article focuses on bicycle infrastructure.

Bicycle houses

So, it's time to describe...an urban cycling paradise! Or at least, earthly attempts to create one. Obviously, bicycles impact space to varying degrees. This is a result of many factors, and we don't have the space for a detailed analysis here. ( I recently wrote a short piece that explores these issues using Warsaw as an example.) But nowhere, even in the most progressive cities in this regard, do cycling issues fundamentally influence the approach to building design. It's clear that if a significant portion of residents don't use cars, and virtually every family owns a bicycle, this must influence the thinking of architects in Amsterdam or Copenhagen. The implications, for example, for the number of parking spaces or bicycle storage areas are clear. And the quality of the architecture of new residential buildings being built in these cities rightly leaves us feeling insecure. But even there, a certain tradition and adherence to proven patterns dominate the design.

Bicycle house in the north

Designers from the Hauschild + Siegel studio (which has since split into two separate firms: Axel Hauschild and Siegel) opted for more radical solutions. The Ohboy Cycle Huset, built in Malmö, Sweden, features convenient bicycle storage spaces in an enfilade on each floor, yet lacks any garage space. Doesn't sound revolutionary? According to current regulations, it's practically impossible to build such a house in Poland! Moreover, the enfilade itself, in our rather common perception, is a rather uncomfortable idea. But Sweden isn't exactly warmer than Poland... So why an enfilade? It makes perfect sense if you consider, for example, the convenience of traveling by bike with children or a larger (two-wheeled, of course) transport vehicle. We can't fit such a bike in a standard space, nor is carrying nets from the garage pleasant. And the enfilade provides protection from the weather, which damages bicycles parked in front of apartment buildings in Warsaw. And it is easy to keep clean. But that's not all, of course. Wide doors allow for easy access to bicycles. Convenient elevators with two-way access and entrances make it easy to get your vehicle in and out. On-site rental of cargo bikes and children's trailers, as well as a bicycle repair shop, may sound like a gimmick. But their presence is justified from a business perspective, as guests use the same amenities. Here's a short video showing the construction phase and also providing a glimpse of how Malmo is changing to make cycling easier. And here are more photos and a more detailed description.

Viennese inspirations

A similar trend is exemplified by an investment in Vienna completed in 2008. The rather unconventional name "Bike City" is a work by the Koniglarch Architekten studio. Few of those who admire Vienna's architecture, both ancient and contemporary, realize how unusual the Austrian capital is in terms of housing policy. The vast majority of apartments are owned by the city, which prioritizes accessibility and actively combats gentrification, a phenomenon that plagues most European capitals. The resulting house boasts similar amenities to the Swedish project described above. What sets it apart is its spatial planning. The Viennese development was built in the Wien-Liesing district and is part of an ambitious urban development plan. By 2025, over 10,000 people will live there, but the city is gradually reducing the number of required parking spaces. Architectural requirements also determine how new developments fit into the park-like concept.

Velo-d(r)om in Singapore

That we're talking about a rare phenomenon is evidenced by the fact that we've discovered another project of this kind on another continent. This investment was completed in Singapore. And right off the bat, the bad news: All the apartments, even the smallest three-bedroom ones (prices from around PLN 2.5 million and up), are already sold out! The designers of Westwood Residences have set out to make life easier for cyclists in various ways. You probably won't find a cycling track available exclusively to the residents of the residential complex. Add to this the nearby interesting areas with a dense network of cycling routes, an indoor swimming pool and a gym, and you get something close to a cycling paradise. The projects described here not only come from different continents but also reflect completely different trends. Scandinavian design is closer to a social revolution. The bicycle is part of a fundamental shift in how we think about how we live and how we move around the city. In Singapore, however, bicycle amenities are part of the marketing story. They're a way to attract customers and differentiate themselves from the competition. Even in the States, where the passenger car dominates as a mode of travel, "bicycle homes" are appearing. In Chicago, you can live in Spoke Apartments , where the workshop for tenants looks better than our company's. The common spaces are better than most hotel lobbies in Poland. But this is still nothing more than an attempt to exploit this trend to promote the rental of a micro-studio for as little as $1,288.