Engen Laudium

An ageing 1970s filling station rebuilt as a clutter-free forecourt, a convenience store and space for more tenants.

A long relationship

The original garage was built by others around 1970, before it was bought by the Kharbai brothers, Ahmed and Solly. Over the years the practice carried out a series of smaller renovations as the business changed, including converting one part of the building into a café.

Knowing when to stop

Eventually we advised the client that the buildings had reached the end of their useful life, and that extending it further no longer made financial sense. The filling station model had also changed completely since the 1970s.

Together we decided to rebuild the entire facility.

The rebuild

The new building actually has less built-up area than the original, yet the site works far better. The precinct was cleared to make way for a clutter-free fuel forecourt, a convenience store that customers want to visit, and space for complementary tenants.

The client reports that the redesign increased both rental income and forecourt turnover.

Working with the brand

Throughout, we worked to protect the client's interests. Taking the time to understand Engen's brand standards gave us the standing to negotiate with Engen as the brand owner, and to find solutions that met both Engen's requirements and the client's goals.