Motorway E411 Wanlin Belgium

Location: Motorway E411 Wanlin Belgium
Company: Fina
Architect: Samyn en Partners Brussel Belgium

Twin petrol station at the motorway Brussels-Namur "Aire de Wanlin" with umbrella-shaped canopies of pre-stressed membranes, covering shelter to the whole forecourt, including the shop building.
In Wanlin the arched canopies resemble the shapes of the hilly landscape, in which they are placed. The large surface of the canopies answer the scale of the motorway. At night there is a diffuse light shining through the membrane, making the petrol station clear to the road user, in a modest way. Under the membrane there is a structure of steel frame girders, resting on six concrete columns. The reflection of sounds under the hollow roof gives a special athmosphere to the place.
Rain discharge is reached bij rims on the membrane, leading the water to the ten tips of the roof.
There are funnels located, carrying off the water concentratedly.
The front- and rear facade of the shop are glazed, offering a good contact to the environment.
The other facades are covered with profiled cladding in gray, giving attention to the coloured company sign at the front. The big height should avoid claustrofobic feelings.
Most materials used are pure, like steel, polyester membrane, aluminium, wood,
glass and concrete.

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Motorway A2 Gotthard Switzerland

Location: Motorway A2 Gotthard tunnel south portal
Company: Agip
Architect: Mario Botta

This filling station is located along the A2 Gotthard tunnel motorway, some kilometers southbound of the tunnel.
A heavy shaped steel spaceframe bears a crosssectionally wingshaped canopy, partly by cables. Silver horizontally ondulating cladding give a finishing touch to both ends. These ends are up to 3 meters thick. Red is the main color here, despite the usual yellow Agip company color.
The large canopy forms a real landmark. It covers both the extended forecourt and the shop building. The latter, one-storey building has red curtain facades and contains the shop, a restaurant, and travel services for the many bypassing tourists.

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Motorway A71 Vichy, France

Location: Motorway A71 Vichy France
Company: Elf
Architect: Ricardo Bofill, Spain

This station is situated at a completely new designed motorway rest area called the "Aire des Volcans d'Auvergne".
The complete area, including a connection bridge and restaurant, were designed in the "postmodern "classic" style of Ricardo Bofill's Spanish architect's office "Taller d'Arquitectura". Due to strict company rules most of the "classic" influence was lost. But the resulting standard station still kept it's Greek shaped canopy pillars. Under it lay the shop building and a tourist infocenter provided with pseudo natural stone facades.

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Motorway A31 Vittel France

Location: Motorway A31 Vittel France
Company: Leclerc
Architect: ?

The petrol station is part of a new designed motorway rest area, serving both directions of the road.
The canopy is equipped with a white steel cable stayed construction, making the large station more pronunciating at the extended area.

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Oguni, Japan

Location: Entrance road Oguni
Company: Cosmo (?)
Architect: Shoei Yoh+Architects, Japan

The filling station is on the entrance road to Oguni.
The ondulating roof is constructed out of four poured in place concrete arches. Each arch is of a different height and depth. A steel and alu grid, incorporating the perfo stainless steel and laminated glass panels, has been stretched between the arches. As well as being highly aesthetically and structurally flexible, this construction also conforms to strict fire regulations.

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Motorway E19 Nivelles Belgium

Location: Motorway E19 Nivelles Belgium
Company: Fina
Architect: Samyn en Partners Brussel Belgium

Twin petrol station at the Brussels-Paris motorway at the "Aire d'Orival". Two bow-shaped girders of 210 m. each stretch over the motorway and the two petrol forecourts beside it. The central 70m part is supported by 2x2 V-shaped columns, here's the restaurant part located. The cantilevering ends shelter the petro customers from the weather. Both for bringing equity in the construction and for extra shelter, four secundary canopies are hung from the main structure. Shop buildings are simple and positioned behind the sheltered forecourts.
At night the semi transparent restaurant bridge looks more inviting, çause the light spreads out everywhere from the structure. Customers enter the place via staircases, positioned between petrol station and restaurant. They also have a sheltering function for the heavy traffic on the motorway behind. For the same reason concrete impact walls are provided to keep traffic out.
The slightly curved main shape connects all buildings, like petrol stations and restaurant, that are normally placed randomly just where it fits, in the area. In this case the curved bridge girders also resemble the shapes of the hilly landscape.

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Motorway E43 Ellwangen Germany.

Locations: Different service areas at the E43
Company: ?
Architect: ?
Erected: ?

On different service areas along the E43 Autobahn some nice designed petro stations were realized. Based on the pre war German Motorway filling station concept. Most of the canopies are grouped in linked units. Every station has a different and unique design.

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City delivery point Vienna Austria

Location: somewhere in Vienna
Company: ?
Architect: ?
Erected: ?

About this filling station I don't have any info. If you could tell me more, I'll be grateful.

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Mobile Filling Stations

Company: Petronas

On the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur the latest transportable station can be found which is operated by Petronas. The unit is based on an Elf unit that has been around for a number of years. Mobile filling stations are rarely seen. Perhaps this is due to a safety concern over above-ground tanks. However, tanks can be made perfectly safe.

Company: Agip

The Agip "Winged" mobile station temporarily based in Prague a few years ago generated much interest around the world.

Company: Mintat

Most of this interest came from operators wishing to establish a network quickly and cheaply on short lease sites that may be too small to be considered for a regular station. The necessary monitoring / safety systems that are required do not necessarily make mobile petrol stations a cheaper option. The Mintat G3 range of mobile filling stations has again received much attention.

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