03.07.2012 / World Bulletin
Provisional transformations
In London, they have a very special way to dal with spaces: even where everything is changing, even in those parts of the city where new residential areas are about to sprout, empty buildings can become fresh meeting places while waiting for future change.
Which is exactly what happened with King’s Cross Filling Station, a disused petrol station along the Regent’s Canal in King’s Cross, an area of central London that is going through great change. Behind the transformation project are the architects at Carmody Groarke studio, who enveloped the station’s forecourt and kiosk in walls made of translucent fibreglass. By day, the sunlight shines through the walls, and by night the structure is illuminated from the base .The result is an almost “American” vision: the huge neon sign reflected in the river, the sudden and isolated presence of the building, the flat canopy appearing above the walls.
Even the menu at Shrimpy’s, the diner contained inside the former station’s kiosk, is inspired by West Coast cuisine, featuring dishes such as crab burger and chimichurri. Yet, King’s Cross Filling Station is not just a place for dining; the idea is to turn this formerly abandoned space into a social venue with a planned cultural programming.
At least for a couple of years, before construction works start again on the site. At the end of this period, the temporary structure will be recycled thanks to its modular nature.
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