The first road service station in the UK was born in 1959. It used to be a wanted to show off, bold architecture built next to or even above the freeway. However, it currently become a “public toilet” place, a building without a soul, with no one willing to stay except if they are hungry and other physiological needs. With the development of technology, the transformation of transportation, and the opportunities brought by electrification or even automation. This thesis argued architects can once again remake this inconspicuous place on the edge of the city into a special place and match it with the upcoming transformation.

This project improves sustainability and mobility by imagining possible new technologies in the future such as on-site production and storage of renewable energy, shared autonomous transportation systems, robotic logistics distribution, etc. The thesis aims to create this new system and guidance prototype for the future motorway station to reference. At the same time, balancing the need for the private car owners and lorry drivers, everyone will be treated as same and equity in the newly designed station area. The interior spaces and circulations of the building are specially designed to maximize the encounter and communication of different groups of people.

This service area will become a place where machines and humans coexist in the future, and the building will serve them at the same time, providing energy, transportation, entertainment and recreational space for all passing drivers and passengers, as well as the vehicles they drive.

Thesis Tutors

Dr Katerina Antonopoulou
Dr Francesca Piazzoni

Thesis Critcs

Frances Hollis
Sebastian Aedo
Maider Llaguno
Iain Jackson

Special Mentions

Thank you to both of my thesis tutors Dr Katerina Antonopoulou and Dr Francesca Piazzoni for their support throughout the project, and thanks to everyone who helped me.