Bahrain Car Parks for the Pearl Path - Christian Kerez

The four car parks in the old city centre of Muharraq are part of the Pearl Path project by the Ministry of Culture of Bahrain. This project combines the renovation of traditional residences and contemporary projects like the Pavilion for the World Expo by Anne Holtrop, a Visitor Centre by Valerio Olgiati, and a series of urban squares by OFFICE. The car parks cover and multiply the large open voids in the dense medieval urban structure of Muharraq. They create, first and foremost, a space for the public that could also be used for prayer, events or markets. Many people will visit the buildings not just to park their cars, but also to experience the ever-changing spaces walking through these structures.