Date of Award
Spring 6-2-2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master in Interior Architecture [Adaptive Reuse]
Department
Interior Architecture
First Advisor
Markus Berger
Second Advisor
Stefano Corbo
Third Advisor
Jongwan Kwon
Abstract
As the automobile industry continues to evolve with car sharing services, electric vehicles and soon autonomous driving, the infrastructure that supports our present-day car culture will become obsolete. While the current advancement focuses on the future of car design and accompanying policies, there is a need to consider the evolution of our infrastructure from an adaptive reuse standpoint.
Among the different kinds of automotive infrastructure, gas stations in particular, are the most environmentally problematic yet advantageous due to their abundance. The conversion of gas stations, however, is not a new notion. While these sites have been renovated into cafés, restaurants, and breweries, these are only solutions to the slow abandonment of a single unit.
This infrastructure needs to be treated as part of a larger system. Economics, politics, as well as environmental, and social dynamics of a community will shift as a result of this adaptation. Therefore, it is important that we consider changes to the physical space through a systems lens.
The proposed reuse strategy of gas stations extends beyond the boundary of the physical site. In addition to an architectural conversion, this intervention will lead to changes in the distribution of energy, provide a platform for citizens to engage with responsive information, and provide a shift in local energy ownership. As a result, this integrated system will respond to the existing infrastructure, support the current characteristics of the local context, and empower citizens within the community they live in.
Recommended Citation
Shadlyn, Toban, "Gassed out" (2018). Masters Theses. 375.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/375
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.