August 11, 2023
The winning design of the Electric Fueling Station of the Future Competition, by James Silvester (credit: Electric Autonomy Canada)
Let’s talk about the future of gas stations in the face of an EV wave.
With sales of electric vehicles skyrocketing—hitting a record 1 million cars sold in 2023—designers are taking the opportunity to rethink the charging station itself. The gas stations of yore, designed for utility and often lacking any sense of warmth or human-orientation, are fading into the background. Taking their place are proposals for modular, timber-framed stations, rainwater collectors, and mobile-charging robots for autonomous charging.
The Real Estate Take // It won’t take long for developers to realize the cross-pollination possible with these gorgeous, values-oriented nodes of real estate. Could partnerships be formed between new residential developments and access to these stations? Will NIMBYs start to complain about their construction and location?
The Creative Take // It’s not often that a completely new typology comes into the ether. Although an evolution on the iconic gas station, these EV charging stations are ripe for redefinition and out-of-the-box concepts. Just last year, Electric Autonomy Canada organized the Electric Fueling Station of the Future competition. Surely the first competition of many. May the most open mind win.
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MUST-READS
How this MacArthur Genius is Turning Empty Prison Cells into Redesigned Libraries // FastCompany
Sonder Launches its First Hotel Collection // Skift
Proptech Beelines for Federal Funds to Retrofit Government Properties // Commercial Observer
The Future of Oxygen Bars // Sticks & Bricks
Building a Bridge Between Architecture and the Deaf Community // Metropolis
Egypt’s Green Destinations are Seizing on Ecotourism Opportunities // Skift
4 Thinkers Inspiring Optimism in Design // Metropolis
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IDEA SPOTLIGHT
City Innovation Summer Learning Series 2023
All summer, the National League of Cities has been hosting a monthly City Innovation Learning Series. Speakers include Ashley O’Brien, User Experience Designer, City of St. Paul, MN; Liz Payne, Digital Services Manager, City of Walnut Creek, CA; and Shelby Switzer, Director of Digital Services, City of Baltimore, MD. You can catch the last one on August 31: Building City-Led Innovative Digital Services.
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