Regular or Super, 2023 –

table of content

Brief

Research

PRIMARY STRUCTURES

ANALYSIS

JURY

“I have tried to make complex things with simplicity, and I will leave it up to you to judge if I have not succeeded. In any case, I have tried, intensely.” (Aldo Pio Favini)

During his time as a student, Aldo Favini, a structural engineer and the son of a real estate developer, crossed paths with the Italian architect Angelo Mangerotti. This encounter would go on to shape their professional relationship in the years to come. As their collaboration deepened, architect and engineer became an inseparable team, working together on numerous projects. They shared a fascination for solving complex engineering problems with simplicity.

“A few years after the project of the structures of the church of Baranzate, Arch. Angelo Mangiarotti asked me to design a structure for an industrial building. Thinking back on the church of Baranzate, I realized I had designed a classical type of structure, nothing new, that is. Exactly four pillars, two main beams, five secondary beams and tiles to complete it…” (Aldo Pio Favini)

When considering the projects of both architect and engineer the same structural type of the cantilevered slab is used to make a church, a pavilion, a gas station and a residential apartment block.

While refueling at a gas station, I noticed its resemblance to the designs by Mangiarotti and Favini. Acknowledging that our generation will be the last reliant on fossil fuels, gas stations now symbolize obsolescence. As we transition to solar-powered transportation, the question arises: how should we address these remnants of the past? Should we demolish them, erasing their memory, or appreciate them for what they are — an intriguing, flexible structural type — a slab supported by four points

These humble structures possess cultural references worth exploring. For instance, the 2004 documentary ‘Regular or Super,’ featuring the work of Mies Van Der Rohe, includes a simple gas station near Montreal amidst his renowned masterpieces. Equally captivating is the artist publication ’26 Gas Stations’ by Ed Ruscha, a book showcasing exactly what its title suggests: 26 examples of the same type. Through its straightforward arrangement, the book unveils the countless variations within the type—always similar, yet never identical.

Brief

In this studio, we will delve into all the gas stations in Flanders. We will meticulously map them, conduct comparisons, and gain a comprehensive understanding of their functionality. Our aim is to compile an archive and establish the boundaries of this particular structural type.

Following this analysis, students will collaborate in pairs to repurpose a former gas station, engaging in the creative process of reimagining and adapting the structure while considering its architectural and structural characteristics.

Research

fig 1039A, Pistoletto

fig 1039B, Pistoletto

fig 1039C, Pistoletto

fig 1037A, Out Of Order

fig 1037B, Out Of Order

fig 1037C, Out Of Order

fig 1035A, side characters

fig 1032A, (Tank)- Station

fig 1032B, (Tank)- Station

fig 1030A, model

fig 1029A, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1029B, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1029C, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1029D, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1029E, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1029F, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1028A, Dah hoek 2

fig 1027A, Dak hoek

fig 1023A, Model

fig 1022A, Undressed

fig 1020A, Exploring the roof of Texaco

fig 1020B, Exploring the roof of Texaco

fig 1020C, Exploring the roof of Texaco

fig 979A, site 1

fig 977A, Werf Jan De Nul

fig 977B, Werf Jan De Nul

fig 977C, Werf Jan De Nul

fig 976A, Texaco and his neighbour

fig 975A, Oprijden tankstation

fig 974A, Model of double single-column canopies attached at the corner

fig 973A, structural parts

fig 972A, analyse in atelier

fig 971A, Happy birthday Gabriëls

fig 970A, Austin Mohawk

fig 969A, collecting gasstations

fig 969B, collecting gasstations

fig 968A, man in brown

fig 967A, Everything Old is New Again!

fig 966A, Gas Cowboy

fig 965A, Bunker?

fig 964A, Naftchalet

fig 963A, Ain’t No Sunshine

fig 962A, Party @ Texaco

fig 961A, The second look

fig 961B, The second look

fig 961C, The second look

fig 961D, The second look

fig 961E, The second look

fig 960A, maes in motion

fig 959A, shell

fig 957A, 7PM @ Q8

fig 958A, Catalogiseren – 4 kolommen, rechthoek, lichtstraat, structuur, shell

fig 956A, vierkant – midden – hoek

fig 955A, ovaal – naast – hoek

fig 954A, Aanhang – wagen – dak

fig 953A, -onder- dak

fig 952A, man met kegel

fig 951A, total energies – man centraal

fig 950A, Eric Trabucho – Twentysix Abandoned Gasoline Stations

fig 950B, Eric Trabucho – Twentysix Abandoned Gasoline Stations

PRIMARY STRUCTURES

fig A Double single-column holding hands

fig B Double single-column holding hands

fig A Double canopy sharing two columns and leaning on a building

fig B Double canopy sharing two columns and leaning on a building

fig A Double canopy sharing two of the four columns and leaning on a building

fig B Double canopy sharing two of the four columns and leaning on a building

fig A Nearly identical two column canopies, apart from column position

fig B Nearly identical two column canopies, apart from column position

fig A Double and single column canopy standing side by side

fig B Double and single column canopy standing side by side

fig A 5/5 columns

fig B 5/5 columns

fig A Kleine structuur.

fig B Kleine structuur.

fig A Kleine structuur.

fig B Kleine structuur.

fig A Kleine structuur.

fig B Kleine structuur.

fig A Kleine structuur.

fig B Kleine structuur.

fig A Kleine structuur.

fig B Kleine structuur.

fig A 3/5 columns

fig B 3/5 columns

fig A 2/5 columns

fig B 2/5 columns

fig A 1/5 columns

fig B 1/5 columns

fig A ^^

fig A ^^^

fig A –^-

fig A ———-

fig A ^^^^^^^

fig A Aansluitende structuur, Jarne en Mike

fig A asymmetric gas station Binche, Jasmien en Robbe

fig A asymmetric gas station Geel, Jasmien en Robbe

fig B asymmetric gas station Geel, Jasmien en Robbe

fig A asymmetric gas station Binche, Jasmien en Robbe

fig B asymmetric gas station Binche, Jasmien en Robbe

fig A Fig A.vrije planvorm – Yunus en Ouassim

fig B Fig A.vrije planvorm – Yunus en Ouassim

fig C Fig A.vrije planvorm – Yunus en Ouassim

fig D Fig A.vrije planvorm – Yunus en Ouassim

fig A Fig A.vrije planvorm – Yunus en Ouassim

fig A asymmetric gas station dendermonde, Jasmien en Robbe

fig B asymmetric gas station dendermonde, Jasmien en Robbe

fig A asymmetric gas station diest, Jasmien en Robbe

fig A asymmetric gas station Laakdal, Jasmien en Robbe

fig A Expressieve daken_1

fig A Expressieve daken_2

fig A Expressieve daken_3

fig A 5/5 columns

fig A 4/5

fig A 3/5 columns

fig A 2/5 columns

fig A 1/5 columns

fig A Wood Double Column

fig A Brick Centre Column

fig A Brick

fig A addition

fig A Gasstation Kortemark

fig B Gasstation Kortemark

fig A Gasstation Blue Kortrijk

fig B Gasstation Blue Kortrijk

fig A Gasstation Blue Kortrijk

fig B Gasstation Blue Kortrijk

fig A Gasstation Doel

fig A Gasstation Buggenhout

fig B Gasstation Buggenhout

fig A Gasstation typology 12345

fig A Gasstation typology cut

fig A Facadism

fig B Facadism

fig C Facadism

fig D Facadism

fig E Facadism

ANALYSIS

fig 1043A, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1043B, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1043C, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1043D, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1042A, sketching on prints

fig 1042B, sketching on prints

fig 1026A, sketching on prints

fig 1026B, sketching on prints

fig 1021A, work in progress

fig 1021B, work in progress

fig 1021C, work in progress

fig 988A, Studio work

fig 988B, Studio work

fig 988C, Studio work

fig 988D, Studio work

JURY

fig A, 7 gas stations + façadism

fig B, 7 gas stations + façadism

fig C, 7 gas stations + façadism

fig D, 7 gas stations + façadism

fig A, Jury presentatie

fig A, jury Maquette

fig A, FINAL JURY

fig A, 7 gas stations + facadism

fig B, 7 gas stations + facadism

fig C, 7 gas stations + facadism

fig D, 7 gas stations + facadism

fig E, 7 gas stations + facadism

fig F, 7 gas stations + facadism

fig A, Kissing Towers

fig B, Kissing Towers

fig C, Kissing Towers

fig D, Kissing Towers

fig A, 7 gas stations + facadism

fig A, Final Jury

fig B, Final Jury

fig C, Final Jury

fig A, Jury maquettefoto’s, Mike Vekeman en Jarne Vekeman

fig B, Jury maquettefoto’s, Mike Vekeman en Jarne Vekeman

fig C, Jury maquettefoto’s, Mike Vekeman en Jarne Vekeman

fig D, Jury maquettefoto’s, Mike Vekeman en Jarne Vekeman

fig A, Brewery Petrol: structure model

fig B, Brewery Petrol: structure model

fig C, Brewery Petrol: structure model

fig D, Brewery Petrol: structure model

fig A, Brewery Petrol: site model

fig B, Brewery Petrol: site model

fig C, Brewery Petrol: site model

fig A, Brewery Petrol: detail model

fig B, Brewery Petrol: detail model

fig C, Brewery Petrol: detail model

fig D, Brewery Petrol: detail model

fig A, Final jury

fig A, Final jury Leontien Vandenbulcke & Robin Miel

fig B, Final jury Leontien Vandenbulcke & Robin Miel

fig C, Final jury Leontien Vandenbulcke & Robin Miel

fig D, Final jury Leontien Vandenbulcke & Robin Miel

fig E, Final jury Leontien Vandenbulcke & Robin Miel

fig F, Final jury Leontien Vandenbulcke & Robin Miel

fig G, Final jury Leontien Vandenbulcke & Robin Miel

fig A, Greenhouse plans

fig B, Greenhouse plans

fig C, Greenhouse plans

fig A, Jury

fig B, Jury

fig C, Jury

fig D, Jury

fig E, Jury

fig F, Jury

fig G, Jury

fig A, Jury_domino dissection

fig B, Jury_domino dissection

fig C, Jury_domino dissection

fig D, Jury_domino dissection

fig E, Jury_domino dissection

fig F, Jury_domino dissection

fig G, Jury_domino dissection

fig H, Jury_domino dissection

fig I, Jury_domino dissection

fig J, Jury_domino dissection

fig K, Jury_domino dissection