Like gas stations and strip malls, parking structures seem more likelyto be the unhappy grunt work of junior architects than the creations ofmaster designers. And yet, among the millions of drab concrete garagesthroughout the world, a few stand out—replete with all the hallmarks ofgreat architecture.

Few and far between, these wonders are sprinkled around the globe inlocations from Paris to Santa Monica. These buildings—green parkinggarages, innovative automobile dealerships, and futuristic gasstations—form a network of buildings fit for admiration as well as forparking your car.

Some of these are run-of-the-mill parking garages that on firstglance look anything but interesting. The Civic Center ParkingStructure in Santa Monica, Calif., designed by Moore Ruble YudellArchitects & Planners, is a stylish monument in the heart of a citythat nurtured America`s car culture. The local architects designed arelatively conventional inner structure, which they transformed with askin of multicolored glass panels and stainless-steel mesh surroundingthe corner stairwells. The space is immensely eye-catching, while on apurely practical level, it provides about 900 much-needed municipalparking spots for the city`s downtown area.