A service station as infrastructure dialoguing with its surroundings.

Stopping at the service station on motorway A1 near Victoria-Gasteiz, 2012 European Green Capital (http://www.floornature.it/blog/vitoria-gasteiz-european-green-capital-2012-7759/), draws our attention to how an infrastructure which we would normally think of as having nothing to do with sustainability needs not be in conflict with the environment.

Basque architectural practice Mozas+Aguirre was appointed to design a practical service station on a small piece of land.
The plan was to build two distinct constructions: the structure of the service station itself and an office building and control centre.

The construction of the office building jutting out on poles increases the amount of available floor space despite the steep slope of the land. Thus the construction is slightly higher than the station itself, permitting improved supervision.

The choice of materials and colours unifies the two volumes; the panels are composite, with steel cladding to cover the pumps and the control building, which also has a steel grating serving as a sunshade. The various hues of grey are brightened up a few yellow elements, creating a reference to the wild broom that grows in the area.

The result is a practical construction which is not in conflict with its natural surroundings, as is often the case of this type of infrastructure, always located on strategic traffic routes, and yet does not go to the other extreme and attempt to conceal its purpose with use of “cosmetic greenery” .


Design: Mozas+Aguirre arquitectos s.l.p., Javier Mozas, Eduardo Aguirre, www.mozasaguirre.com
Client: GASOCENTRO VITORIA S.A.
Location: Polígono industrial de Júndiz. Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)
Photographs: César San Millán
Related links: Victoria-Gasteiz, http://www.floornature.it/blog/vitoria-gasteiz-european-green-capital-2012-7759/, Mozas+Aguirre, http://www.floornature.it/blog/caja-vital-headquarters-mozas+aguirre-arquitectos-7803/

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