Designing a fuel station and fast food outlet may not seem to be the most thrilling of projects, but for Georgian architect Giorgi Khmaladze, his design may just put the Eurasian town of Batumi on the map. Khmaladze is currently in the final construction phase of building a new fuel station and McDonald’s premises in the seaside city of Batumi, Georgia.
Tearing away from the traditional model used for most McDonald’s outlets worldwide, Khmaladze has created a futuristic design in an almost giant wave-like structure. The unique design ensures that the fuel station is kept entirely separate to the fast food space. Part of the structure dramatically overhangs over the station, providing shelter to motorists while also ensuring that the facility stays out of sight to the overhead restaurant. That being said, fuel station patrons can also easily gain access to the indoor restaurant through an adjoining entrance.
The McDonalds outlet features a separate ground floor entrance located at the opposite end of the building and overlooking the surrounding ponds which wrap around the location. The kitchen and service facilities are all located in the central ground section, with side staircases leading to the elevated dining areas. This section offers patrons a view across the urban landscape, with added seating situated parallel to an immense open-air garden.
"The 'elevated garden' - a 600 square meter (6458 sq. ft) green roof system, brings back the natural environment which was wasted by the building footprint (which is almost same in size)," Giorgi Khmaladze told Gizmag.
The Fuel Station and McDonalds building is further characterized by its angular glass exterior, featuring a series of glass panels which reflect the above skies and surrounding environment. "The entire curtain wall is covered with low E coated glass panels and additionally there is a ceramic frit pattern on glazing which is custom designed in such a way that it will transmit less direct sunlight to the dining spaces when the sun rises to higher altitudes during warm months," Khmaladze tells Gizmag. "Also there is a large skylight, which brings natural light into the central core, which otherwise would require artificial light during a day."
Aesthetically the structure seems to be more of a giant sculpture and thankfully does not bare any resemblance to the iconic golden arches.
Source: Giorgi Khmaladze via Arch Daily
