What is RePowers©?

RePowers intends to transform obsolete petrol stations into personal, mental and physical energy stations for our customers. They will be designed using technologies and materials that are innovative and sustainable, with the objective of putting people first and ensuring a totally pleasurable experience. Naturally, our core business will not be overlooked, that is, to charge the car in a timely way or to offer the use car sharing on a temporary basis.

Project presentation

In the future, there will be more and more demand for our time, and finding time to recharge our spirits and bodies will be more and more difficult. Moreover, from 2030 onwards we will see a substantial and accelerated conversion from a petroleum-based transport system to one based on electricity and alternative fuels. This will require many people to stay for at least 30-60 minutes at the electric charging station in order to continue on with their day.

Inevitably, many petrol stations will become mini-malls or small bistros and many will close. What would be the best way to utilise our time spent at charging stations?

Service stations could become a place to recharge yourself and take advantage of the "wasted" time you spend during the refuelling of your car. You could eat a meal or rest in a special room, receive innovative wellness treatments, monitor your health through body care screening, or could work - by printing an email or using a PC station. All this, in exterior and interior environments where natural and ecological materials (wood, stone, etc.), with all their beneficial effects on us, predominate.

Going "to fill up with petrol" will become an experience. Each filling station will be equipped with various services, depending on the vision and business mission of the financial backers, but one element they all would have in common will be their official requalification, including greenwashing and an ecologically sustainable redesign, to breathe new life into them.

But how can we guarantee that all petrol stations can afford qualified personnel and suitably sustainable environments? It will be indispensable to implement all of the staff's needed and existing soft skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving capabilities, etc., to optimise the performance of each RePowers Station. Tecnoclima Architectural Studio, Luca Giordano & Partners, Lugano



Video presentazione


Tavola architettonica del progetto

Project Description

RePowers stations will all share a common denominator: to carry out their original purpose through the integration of technology and materials, in addition to other new, innovative and sustainable functions.

Looking at the external views, we immediately understand the importance of natural features in the project. The facades will be overrun with different plant species that will contribute to improving air quality. Users can recharge their cars under two green "nests", one for electric cars and the other for hydrogen, methane or biogas, etc. Adjacent to the service station there will be a green tower offering carsharing with electric cars, which through a local network will support this travel solution. In order to integrate RePowers stations into an urban context, a train-tram stop can be built on the premises to encourage its use by customers.

Before arriving at the service station, customers can choose and reserve the activities or treatments they want to do or receive, as well as select their meals from the menu, using a smartphone or integrated car computer system and a specialised application. Once inside the station, the same application can be used to monitor the recharge status of their car and their chosen activities.

The interiors will also be designed using natural materials, when possible, because they not only promote sustainable development but also influence an person's physical well-being. Flooring, depending on the type of investment and ecological footprint desired, will consist of real grass lawns where children can play. Paths will be marked by stone walkways. Specific areas and activities will be defined by changes of flooring alternating wood and stones. Internal walls may also be overrun by greenery, others will be simply raw earth, lime plaster or bamboo. There will also be technological aspects such as interactive walls or interacting projections.

The ground floor could be defined as a more conventional area. Activities offered will be those typical of current service stations, but with some innovative aspects as well.

At the restaurant, customers will be able to choose between different types of cuisine (ethnic, printed in 3D, vegan or traditional) depending upon current dietary habits. Food orders will be taken using digital devices with thematic holograms. You can choose whether to eat your meal seated at a traditional table, for those feeling nostalgic, or inside an interactive igloo, where you can choose your preferred setting and level of intensity. This virtual or augmented reality environment can be completely isolated or be in contact with the outside area. In the igloo, you can also choose to utilise a simple therapy such as negative ions, ozone or oxygen. All service stations will be equipped with a shop selling healthy products, vitamin supplements etc., as well as offering services.

On the first floor, customers can relax in ergonomic seating in an open space, interact with other people or explore the interactive walls. You can go online and choose what to see by simply touching the walls. A co-working area, equipped with PC workstations and everything needed to work remotely, will also be provided.

On this floor, you can access the rest area with proper bedrooms for those on long journeys and the body care screening area, where complete non-invasive check-ups can be carried out in a virtual connection with doctors in nearby hospitals.

Beauty and spa treatments with professionals will also be available.

On the top floor, you can choose from fitness activities or spa treatments. Exercise equipment and courses will also be available. You can try a Kneipp Path, a wellness treatment based on the healing power of water. The entire atmosphere will be suffused with a characteristic light: the ceiling dome will be covered in translucent, mobile photovoltaic panels which can be opened to allow beneficial direct sunlight to enter whenever possible.

Project Description

RePowers stations will all share a common denominator: to carry out their original purpose through the integration of technology and materials, in addition to other new, innovative and sustainable functions.

Looking at the external views, we immediately understand the importance of natural features in the project. The facades will be overrun with different plant species that will contribute to improving air quality. Users can recharge their cars under two green "nests", one for electric cars and the other for hydrogen, methane or biogas, etc. Adjacent to the service station there will be a green tower offering carsharing with electric cars, which through a local network will support this travel solution. In order to integrate RePowers stations into an urban context, a train-tram stop can be built on the premises to encourage its use by customers.

Before arriving at the service station, customers can choose and reserve the activities or treatments they want to do or receive, as well as select their meals from the menu, using a smartphone or integrated car computer system and a specialised application. Once inside the station, the same application can be used to monitor the recharge status of their car and their chosen activities.

The interiors will also be designed using natural materials, when possible, because they not only promote sustainable development but also influence an person's physical well-being. Flooring, depending on the type of investment and ecological footprint desired, will consist of real grass lawns where children can play. Paths will be marked by stone walkways. Specific areas and activities will be defined by changes of flooring alternating wood and stones. Internal walls may also be overrun by greenery, others will be simply raw earth, lime plaster or bamboo. There will also be technological aspects such as interactive walls or interacting projections.

The ground floor could be defined as a more conventional area. Activities offered will be those typical of current service stations, but with some innovative aspects as well.

At the restaurant, customers will be able to choose between different types of cuisine (ethnic, printed in 3D, vegan or traditional) depending upon current dietary habits. Food orders will be taken using digital devices with thematic holograms. You can choose whether to eat your meal seated at a traditional table, for those feeling nostalgic, or inside an interactive igloo, where you can choose your preferred setting and level of intensity. This virtual or augmented reality environment can be completely isolated or be in contact with the outside area. In the igloo, you can also choose to utilise a simple therapy such as negative ions, ozone or oxygen. All service stations will be equipped with a shop selling healthy products, vitamin supplements etc., as well as offering services.

On the first floor, customers can relax in ergonomic seating in an open space, interact with other people or explore the interactive walls. You can go online and choose what to see by simply touching the walls. A co-working area, equipped with PC workstations and everything needed to work remotely, will also be provided.

On this floor, you can access the rest area with proper bedrooms for those on long journeys and the body care screening area, where complete non-invasive check-ups can be carried out in a virtual connection with doctors in nearby hospitals.

Beauty and spa treatments with professionals will also be available.

On the top floor, you can choose from fitness activities or spa treatments. Exercise equipment and courses will also be available. You can try a Kneipp Path, a wellness treatment based on the healing power of water. The entire atmosphere will be suffused with a characteristic light: the ceiling dome will be covered in translucent, mobile photovoltaic panels which can be opened to allow beneficial direct sunlight to enter whenever possible.