Total - Live Today for Tomorrow (Driving Change for the Future??)
Finding a design for corporate building structures like a gas station is in general a particular challenging task. The building does not only have to look appealing to the customer, but is moreover required to create a value adding customer experience, foster operational effectiveness, and reflect the desired corporate image as precisely as possible. In addition to that the current design of the corporate logo was also a central element taken into consideration for the design of the future Total gas stations.
Overall the proposed requirements translate into a design that is based on the synthesis of associative form finding and an implementation of required design elements such as the assured functionality and an appealing architectural design. In particular it was also of great importance to find materials and a concept for the illumination of the sites that appear welcoming to customers and the general public.
In order to comply with the desired and more importantly already incorporated corporate image of a global player who seeks sustainable operations and a strong commitment to the protection of the environment the following concept was developed:
The exterior of the design flows seamlessly into the interior and thereby provides not only a very efficient building structure, but also room for a very effective space allocation among functional design units. Naturally this creates an ambivalent perception between the facade of the main building and the ‘roof structure’.
The roof structure is designed to have three canopies that not only protect against the weather, but also direct the customer’s attention towards the gas station 24/7. A complex illumination concept assures that the gas station is always illuminated according to the persistent weather- and light-conditions. Further, the shapes of the roof structure are an analogy to the three arches of the logo and translate into the three canopies coloured in their respective colours. Under the roof structure we find three zones with different functions. The ‘red-zone’ serves as the commonly known gas station, the ‘blue-zone’ provides parking spaces for electric cars, and finally the smallest among the canopies, the ‘light blue’, serves as bike service area and provides room for a Rent-a-bike service station. Moreover, one of the canopies should be equipped with solar cells, which provide the necessary energy for the electric cars. In addition to the separated canopies, their colouring and the illumination concept the design language attracts the biggest attention. The design language further creates an interesting ambiguity between the roof and its function.
Inside the gas station we find, as previously indicated, a design concept tied in with the exterior design. The arches of the canopies, coming from the exterior, continue into the interior providing a clearly structured interior and are therefore functionally integrated into the room. Thus, the light blue section is the service area for Rent-a-bike and bike supplies, the red area services everything around cars, and the blue area is an Information Centre for e-cars, which also serves as waiting area and café for people waiting while their cars recharge.
The primary concern for the proposed design is a clear implementation of sustainability and eco-friendliness into the day-to-day business. In addition to that the gas station should become a place where the design aesthetics and their playfulness invite customers to stay and enjoy the benefits of sustainable operations. Total can thereby adapt to the changing consciousness of the consumer, respond to the ongoing trend towards alternative sources of energy, and finally gain a competitive advantage by choosing an architectural approach towards the future – An approach to drive change now in order to change the future.
