what if design could enhance our communities?

aw-shucks.
this project is the recent winner of honorable
mention in the 2010 Retail Design Institutes
International Student Design Competition.

The following is a presentation of my senior thesis

project. It communicates my technical, conceptual
and research skills.
More of my diverse project
experience can be seen at my website :
w w w. l a n ga n d e s i g n s . c o m

the

well

a prototype for change

mission possible.
You have been selected to be part of a national environmental recovery
team. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to infiltrate your
community, buying local products and making connections, in an effort to
gather relevant information and make better decisions.
Use this card for special access to facilities which will aid in your mission.
Please log in to www.thewell.com to find your closest starting coordinates.
This message will biodegrade in 2 months.

the

GREEN
card

(customer loyalty card)

what if

I could reinvent the gas station?

SAY, whats the big idea?

1 the problem:

go on, say it.

the questions:

the goals:

Provide a state-of-the-art
fueling station.
Suggest a purpose for gas station locations
after fueling becomes a secondary or nonexistent part of their industry.
Why are there so many abandoned gas stations?
What will become of gas stations when fueling is not a major part of
the industry?

Provide a prototype for present and future fueling

stations that meet the following criteria:
thoughtful to user needs

Why is gas station design so unthoughtful to its users?

adaptable to changing fueling alternatives

What could a gas station be?

sensitive to the nostalgic nature of filling

stations & roadside architecture that has
been lost.

understanding the problem

what if

gas stations could be more green?

well well well, not your average gas station.

the

I got well in Cincinnati!

well

the well is:

- a convenience store & fueling station

convenience with conscience

The definition of CONVENIENCE is changing. It is growing

a CONSCIENCE. Quantity is no longer being defined as
quality. Consumers are more savvy than ever about what
they put in their bodies, their cars and their COMMUNITY.
Sustainability as status is being debunked while more and
more patrons are demanding LOCAL products delivered in
a sustainable way as the standard rather than the exception.
They are careful about their automobile efficiency, fueling
and food CHOICES because it is a reflection of who they
are in community. They crave a modern corner store,
where clerks are FAMILIAR again, food is FRESH and
local and the stop doesnt require heroic parking efforts
and endless check-out lines. Shopping and eating fresh,
supporting local community efforts and becoming part of a
CONSCIOUS CULTURE is the where the fueling industry
must navigate in order to remain relevant. In that spirit, the
well attempts to revive abandoned gas station sites while
meeting the demand of these very discerning consumers.

- a lifestyle brand

- the first retail outlet for local farmers

- a testing ground for alternative fuels

- a community resource

- convenience with conscience

defining the market

what if

sustainability could be fun?

wellness

minimum footprint
maximum fingerprint

we hear ya dude.
the well IS A CULTURE
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING.

local . honest . natural . innovative . fresh . happy .

yeah, theres alternative fuels.

yeah, theres wheat grass & organic milk...

At the well, all shades of green are welcome.

So whether you pull up in your SmartCar or your
Hummer, you can expect healthy, tasty foods, clean &
convenient amenities and do it all while

I got well
in Cincinnati.

keeping your footprint to a minimum and your

fingerprint to a maximum!

a new,
approachable
tone delivers
healthy product
and environmental
awareness with a
culture!

find the next

well.

customer loyalty card

the

GREEN
A web culture attached to the brand shares well
experiences and cool well locations to see. You
can view real time building load demands, (water,
electricity, etc.), submit quotes for inclusion
on well cups and bags, and share community
information.

card

a thumbs up
graphics system
playfully rates
patrons choices
on personal health
or environmental
impact.

the

well

Ivory
c
from omes
d
eleph ead
a
best nts, its
not to
buy it
.

Cincin

nati, o

the

well

ing
a morn
t
ou
h
wit
coffee

thousands of earth facts are printed on

reusable bags and randomly distributed
throughout the country, creating a one
of a kind, incentive for purchase and self
branding.

quote suggestions can be made

online and will be incorporated in to
the cups.

small cars

we love farmers.

electric
charging

taking the status out of sustainability

green is a decision, not an aesthetic.

and reclaimed building materials and solar powered gas

pumps and local produce and community connection,
healthy food and fancy coffee...

a fun relationship with earth!

creating the brand

gas station sites could refuel more than your car?

a site for sore eyes

the well is about community. As a brand it is known for

acquiring abandoned gas station sites and cleaning
them up! To get consistant brand messaging, existing
gas station shells are clad in a fabric panel system.
These panels can have graphics printed directly on
them, which become regional. The interior of the
store is then renovated as needed.

farmer's
market
entrance

fuels offered

DBL STACK
OVEN

electric
hydrogen
dme

2'-0" X
4'-0"
STAINLESS
STEEL WORK
TABLE

2'-0" X
4'-0"
STAINLESS
STEEL WORK
TABLE

2'-0" X
4'-0"
STAINLESS
STEEL WORK
TABLE

main building

outdoor
seating/bike
parking
electric
charging

exterior
rubber sidewalks

Covered walkway centered to

entry doors allows pedestrians a
safe place to traverse. Recycling
containers and benches offer
patrons a fresh approach.

permeable
pavement

solar power

more green than not

canopy & pumps

dog fountain
architectural fabric

Axis and connection to exterior is

maintained on the interior with a
tension fabric canopy.

hotel

6' S.S
WORK
TOPREFRIGERATOR

gasoline
biodiesel
ethanol

permeaable
pavement

what if

trial fuel

carpool
parking

site plan

the site

what if

I proposed another purpose for gas stations?

carwash smarwash. pod

hotels

welcome greenypants!
A
greenwall

Green wall integrating plants

for sale, herbs for picking,
and graphics of local farmers
draws patrons through the
store.

localest
fresh market

Roll up door and

entry for delivery
and weekend
farmers markets.
seating

Free wi-fi, charging

station, windowsill herb
garden for picking.

localer
coolers

well heads,
where patrons can
refill their water
bottles.

cafe

Modern and cheerfully colored

prefabricated shipping container
hotel pods redefine the add-on
business model for fueling stations
and drive progressive ideas about
space and reuse. site conditions
can dictate the number of pods.
when needed, the pods can be
moved to another location.

Quick grab
area

B
quick grab
e-check-in

local
self brand

site conditions can

dictate number of
restrooms.

reuse

no package
snack station

SPATIAL DIAGRAM
A driving force behind the design,
this system allowed the gas station
to become three store types in one.
A) Quick Grab
B) Lunch and small grocery
C) Fresh Market

The further in
you go, the
more locally
you are
shopping.

B)

C)

A)

the plan

what if

gas stations werent cluttered and cramped?

SECTION A: NTS

SECTION B: NTS

mary & karen

moss

moss

moss

reindeer
moss

wheat
grass

fern

cat
grass

rye

hollmeyer's Orchard

we

farmers.

wpod

mint

get your ladders

out.

dill

cilantro oregano

thymer osemary

our pods will have you

climbing the walls in no
time.
Christine
Lima, OH

mint

dill

cilantro oregano

thymer osemary

basil

parsley

moss

herbs

moss

moss

reindeer
moss

wheat
grass

fern

cat
grass

rye

pumpkin

basil

parsley

Greenwall
integrating plants
for sale, herbs for
picking, and graphics
of local farmers. The
wall draws patrons
through the store.

good no matter
how you cut it.

pie . coffee . muffins . cake .

bread . cookies . soup . dip .
seeds . pasta

be picky about
what you eat.

Matt
Youngest herb
farmer in Ohio

INTERIOR ELEVATION

section/elevations

I revived roadside architecture?

ripple effect

what if

reflection
cause and effect
connection
personal awareness
part to whole relationship
play

DESIGN PARTI
The ripples become the fueling
pumps on the exterior and feature
fixtures on the interior. They act as
mile markers and create a visual,
and conceptual, connection between
decisions made and their effects on
community.

exterior

what if

gas stations were environmentally responsible?

welcome locavore!

exterior entry

what if

healthy food was available at gas stations?

go nuts!

the ripples become featured product display

a dry snack station allows patrons to use less packaging as well

as self brand through their own percentage of certain items
like nuts, raisins or dried fruit.
(much like having a signature coffee)

interior entry

what if

gas stations were a healthy lunch destination?

be picky!

patrons can pick herbs

to add to their lunch, or
bring home as their own
local garden.

patrons can refill their water bottle, eat lunch,

get online or grab local dinner groceries.

interior

what if

farmers designed a store?

made ya look.

fun with fixtures.

modular crates

-flexible displays are created in

multiple areas of the store with one fixture.

-whiteboard finish acts as price

display and adds to community feel.

feature fixture

- local businesses get

featured products
- acts as visual
marker for shoppers
to know how locally
they shop

fixture/display design

what if

fresh mint for your coffee?

summer sun

I wanted to become part of the buy local community?

bringing sustainability to the masses.

METAL CAP

1/2" PLYWOOD
SHEATHING

COPING WEDGE
RUBBER ROOFING
MEMBRANE

SHEATHING

wpod

winter sun

LIGHTTRACKER
REFLECTOR

FLASHING SCREW
EXTENSION TUBE

ROOF
SEALANT

FLASHING
LIGHTWEIGHT ROOF DECK
ROOT BARRIER
DRAINAGE LAYER
GEOTEXTILE
GROWING MEDIUM

CONCRETE BLOCK

get your ladders

out.

ARCHITECTURAL
FABRIC PANEL

ALUMINUM FRAME
SYSTEM FOR PANELS

our pods will have you

climbing the walls in no
time.

ENDORSEMENT
GRAPHIC PANEL

HEAVY DUTY
WHITE PVC
SLATWALL

Christine
Lima, OH

BRAND MESSAGE

PLANT POD

greenwall fixture

Frame receiver &

brand message

"CHALKBOARD"
GRAPHIC PANEL

- take part of the well

community home with
you and support
growing local product.

PRODUCE BINS

soil pockets

FINISHED FLOOR
SUBFLOOR

CONCRETE SLAB
GRATE/DRAIN

Overflow resevoir

Fresh mint for your coffee?

WALL SECTION

wall section and greenwall fixture exploded axon

what if

a brand could talk to me?

the tone, a local graphic strategy.

cold
beer

A fine beer may be

in here

judged with only one

sip, but it's better to be
thoroughly sure.

herbs

mary & karen

be picky about
what you eat.

hollmeyer's Orchard
indianapolis, IN

Matt
youngest herb
farmer in Ohio

kevin

pumpkin

hops & harvest

ft. wayne, IN

pie . coffee . muffins . cake .

bread . cookies . soup . dip .
seeds . pasta

good no matter
how you cut it.

Lindsey
Hamilton, OH

graphic strategy

the finishing touch.

what if

gas stations were clean?

light
acrylic

sparkling tile

sophisticated,
fresh palette
clean
epoxy
flooring

warm bamboo
materials

what if

a gas station became a daily destination?

This model took more than 100 hours to
complete. I designed and crafted the entire
model.
In order to create the fixtures, I sourced
acrylic and MDF. I used a Rapid Prototyping
lab to lasercut each individual piece and then
assembled them afterward.
In order to complete this model to this level of
detail and craft, it required complex planning,
scheduling and experimentation.

the model

what if

I could reinvent the gas station?

well

down to ear th.

the

im a foodie.

cafe.

i was here.

the greengo.

the foodie.

inve

nto

ry

beer

soda/
snack

grocerie

the treehugger.

SELF-BRAND

design process

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

light

parti
reflection
cause and effect
connection
personal awareness
part to whole relationship
play

cellar

cafe

POS

RR

Final design came from

the idea of the ripple
effect.
It evokes a
connection
between
human and environment
and place and community.

bike
parking

what shade of green

are you?

restrooms

QUICK

a morning without coffee

is like sleep.

The ripples
become fixtures
and featured
products.

taking from the earth

ripple effect

suck it up.

pump.

ads

canopy
ideas

GROCERY

product

a well.

every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

we are all on a spectrum,

the process