Copenhagen: Skovshoved Gas Station

1936

Architect: Arne Jacobsen

Kystvejen 24, Charlottenlund, Denmark

Arne Jacobsen designed the gas station in the coastal town of Skovshoved, north of Copenhagen, on behalf of Texaco in 1936.

Gas Station

This single-story, square building originally had a workshop, an office, a heating room, and a restroom. Cars could enter the workshop through two garage doors on the north side. The only windows are on the west side of the gas station, next to doors that led to the cashier’s area.

The gas station’s roof has its highest point on the street side and slopes evenly to the rear.

A clock, illuminated in red at night, hangs on the façade and was installed at a later date.

Construction

The building, canopy, and support structure are all made of reinforced concrete. The gas station building is clad in white ceramic tiles.

Lighting

The round, mushroom-shaped roof, which has a single concrete support, is painted white on its underside. Three spotlights on the building and four on the support indirectly illuminate the roof. Due to light reflection, the tank area is as bright as day, even at night.

The canopy’s shape is reminiscent of the backrest of the Ant chair, which Jacobsen designed in 1952.

All of the building’s edges and corners, as well as the roof and support, are rounded and smoothly shaped. This design feature greatly contributes to the building’s uniform appearance.

Current Use

The gas station is still in operation, with gas pumps under the canopy. The interior, which was originally used as an office, has since been converted into an ice cream parlor.

In 2003, the architectural firm Dissing + Weitling, whose architects Otto Weitling and Hans Dissing were former employees of Arne Jacobsen, restored the gas station on behalf of the Gentofte municipality. The facade tiles were subsequently replaced.