Bicycle parking facility De Fietsappel

De Fietsappel, an iconic bicycle parking facility, offers space for 1000 bicycles in the Alphen aan den Rijn station area. The parking facility is designed to combine compactness, safety and a green appearance, which is why a green-painted steel structure was chosen. The ramp’s design, which runs in a spiral from bottom to top, creates the contours of an apple. The ‘core’ of nine steel columns and a network of trusses and joints forms the main supporting structure. This bicycle parking facility, measuring 27.5 metres wide and 15.5 metres high, has three and a half floors and provides a safe place to park bicycles in a prominent location. Iv provided the complete parametric design, engineering and automated workshop drawings for the 300-tonne steel structure De Fietsappel.

The design and structure of De Fietsappel presented several challenges. The structure had to be functional, safe and compact enough to fit into the limited space within the station area. The choice of steel and the design of an apple required specific technical solutions. Iv designed a steel floor constructed from interconnected parts and a network of 105 hexagonal joints, which required precision and expertise. It was also important that the parking facility remained easily accessible, with sufficient space for both bicycles and pedestrians and that the aesthetic and functional requirements were combined in a design that would become a recognisable and attractive landmark.

De Fietsappel has had a significant impact on the area around the station and the cycling facilities in Alphen aan den Rijn. The structure significantly increased the capacity for parking bicycles and stimulated the use of bicycles as a means of transport to the station. With a lifespan of at least one hundred years and a design that is both sustainable and efficient, De Fietsappel offers a future-proof solution. The use of steel structures resulted in a robust yet light and flexible structure, while the green colour and playful design contributed to an attractive urban environment.

In 2012, De Fietsappel received national recognition when awarded the National Steel Prize in the Non-Residential Construction category. This prize recognises the innovative use of steel and the contribution De Fietsappel has made to Dutch infrastructure and urban architecture.