Items Tagged ‘gas station’
Gas Station Home
Project Name:
Gas Station HomeLocation:
Berlin, Germany, EUCompletion Date:
2008Original Use(s):
Shell gas stationNew Use(s):
private residenceProject Description:
History
Located in Berlin’s Schöneberg district, this site was once home to a Shell gas station. The building itself was built in 1956 on top of the foundation of a residential building that had been destroyed during World War II.
(Re)Developer
The property was purchased by Juerg Judin who had been pining over the possibilities of the station for years. Mr. Judin is an art collector and dealer from Zurich who moved to Berlin upon the completion of this adaptive reuse project.
Outcome
A contaminated piece of land has successfully been cleaned up and a new life has been given to it. The finished concept is that of a space for an artist-in-residence. The original building was completely renovated, a new wing was added, and a garden/patio/pond were located in the old paved lot. The original station offers 970 square feet of live/work space while the new addition has provided 3,200 square feet, with the second floor of that addition used as exhibition space. The gas stations old canopy for the pumps has been retained and used as a cover for the outdoor seating area.[1]
[1]The New York Times
Images courtesy of The New York Times.
Manhan Cafe
Project Name:
Manhan CafeLocation:
Easthampton, Massachusetts, USACompletion Date:
2006Original Use(s):
gas stationNew Use(s):
retail (cafe)Project Description:
History
An old gas station next to the city’s original firehouse closed down in the early 2000s. The location was a block away from another larger gas station and along one of the main corridors in Easthampton. Around the same time that the gas station shut down, the fire department vacated the firehouse for a brand new public safety building.
(Re)Developer
Douglas Hurteau and his daughter Jessica purchased the old gas station in 2006. Their dream was to create a new community space out of an auto-centric (small) piece of land.
Outcome
The Hurteaus successfully developed a thriving new space for the Easthampton community. Their timing was precise as they converted the gas station as the town was (and still is) experiencing an arts “renaissance”. The cafe is now a welcome fixture within the “community, offering a place for local artists to display their works and local musicians to perform. ” It is “a lovely place to grab a great cup of coffee, sit and read the paper, or check email on your laptop (free wireless internet).”[1] Located just off the Manhan Rail Trail, the site still retains a large parking lot as well.
[1]EasthamptonWeb
Images courtesy of EasthamptonWeb, Manhan Café (via Facebook).
KLofts
Project Name:
KLoftsLocation:
San Diego, California, USACompletion Date:
2005Original Use(s):
Circle K convenience store and gas stationNew Use(s):
low-income affordable housingProject Description:
History
The KLoft site and structure originally served the San Diego community as a Circle K convenience store and gas station. Situated in the Golden Hill neighborhood, this area has recently been experiencing significant gentrification after years deterioration.
(Re)Developer
Private developer and architect Jonathan Segal purchased the site to help further revitalize the neighborhood. Segal proposed an apartment complex with a street-level garage and a small commercial/retail space.[1] KLofts was designed with a participatory design process creating positive connections between and among residents, community stakeholders, local government officials and civic groups.
Outcome
The design outcome provides a building with public and private space that enhances human scale and further promotes social interaction, shared use of space, defensible space to help revitalize this deteriorating community while at the same time enhancing the community’s physical fabric. The project was built at a cost of $82/sf and utilized no governmental subsidy. KLofts is a collection of simple architectural forms collaged to create a nine unit loft building on a 9,000 square foot urban property. The former Circle K convenience store and gas station were saved and integrated into the new design to minimize the deconstruction and make adaptive reuse of the existing building. The modern building integrates urban living environments for a mixture of very low income (50% of median income) affordable and market rate rental units with each unit containing large private outdoor spaces and oversize glazing. The sustainable project provides 50% renewable electricity and a unit set aside for very low income families. The architect/developer worked closely with the community for nine months to ensure a project that is well received by the neighborhood and provides needed affordable housing in San Diego.[2]
[1]Architectural Record
[2]jonathan segal architect
Images courtesy of jonathan segal architect.
Eyesore of the Week
Project Name:
Eyesore of the WeekLocation:
Completion Date:
Original Use(s):
New Use(s):
Project Description:
As part of a continuing series, McNamara looks at an ex-gas station in Lansing which he considers an eyesore. The owner of the property would like to reuse the structure but architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn disagrees. Most gas stations are built in such a way that they do not lend themselves to easy adaptive reuse. She suggests that gas stations be developed with an eye to the future, making the property and building easier to reuse if the gas company vacates. Gas stations tend to be in prime locations that mark the urban fabric. Left vacant, it can have a big impact on the community.