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 1041A, Pistoletto

fig 1041B, Pistoletto

fig 1041C, Pistoletto

fig 1039A, Out Of Order

fig 1039B, Out Of Order

fig 1039C, Out Of Order

fig 1037A, side characters

fig 1034A, (Tank)- Station

fig 1034B, (Tank)- Station

fig 1032A, model

fig 1031A, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1031B, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1031C, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1031D, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1031E, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1031F, fotos tankstation yunus

fig 1030A, Dah hoek 2

fig 1029A, Dak hoek

fig 1025A, Model

fig 1024A, Undressed

fig 1022A, Exploring the roof of Texaco

fig 1022B, Exploring the roof of Texaco

fig 1022C, Exploring the roof of Texaco

fig 981A, site 1

fig 979A, Werf Jan De Nul

fig 979B, Werf Jan De Nul

fig 979C, Werf Jan De Nul

fig 978A, Texaco and his neighbour

fig 977A, Oprijden tankstation

fig 976A, Model of double single-column canopies attached at the corner

fig 975A, structural parts

fig 974A, analyse in atelier

fig 973A, Happy birthday Gabriëls

fig 972A, Austin Mohawk

fig 971A, collecting gasstations

fig 971B, collecting gasstations

fig 970A, man in brown

fig 969A, Everything Old is New Again!

fig 968A, Gas Cowboy

fig 967A, Bunker?

fig 966A, Naftchalet

fig 965A, Ain’t No Sunshine

fig 964A, Party @ Texaco

fig 963A, The second look

fig 963B, The second look

fig 963C, The second look

fig 963D, The second look

fig 963E, The second look

fig 962A, maes in motion

fig 961A, shell

fig 959A, 7PM @ Q8

fig 960A, Catalogiseren – 4 kolommen, rechthoek, lichtstraat, structuur, shell

fig 958A, vierkant – midden – hoek

fig 957A, ovaal – naast – hoek

fig 956A, Aanhang – wagen – dak

fig 955A, -onder- dak

fig 954A, man met kegel

fig 953A, total energies – man centraal

fig 952A, Eric Trabucho – Twentysix Abandoned Gasoline Stations

fig 952B, 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 1045A, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1045B, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1045C, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1045D, Implementing gasstation on the site

fig 1044A, sketching on prints

fig 1044B, sketching on prints

fig 1028A, sketching on prints

fig 1028B, sketching on prints

fig 1023A, work in progress

fig 1023B, work in progress

fig 1023C, work in progress

fig 990A, Studio work

fig 990B, Studio work

fig 990C, Studio work

fig 990D, 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