The Filling Station

Named the King’s Cross Filling Station, the structure will remain in place for approximately two years before the site is redeveloped to provide housing. Carmody Groarke design a lot of temporary pavilions around London.  Having set out to create a strong ‘sense of place’ in an area of central London that is going through great change, King’s Cross has been working with Carmody Groarke. An architectural identity has been created for the King’s Cross Filling Station, previously a disused petrol station on a part of the site adjacent to York Way and the Regent’s Canal.

The Filling Station at Kings Cross was the venue for a commission from moving image artist Max Hattler. The commission was sponsored by Vauxhall as part of their Ampera Season. LCI provided a 30m wide water screen, on London’s Regents Canal, for the duration of the event. This video gives you not only a fine example Max Hattler’s work, but a behind the scenes look at LCI setting up the water screen, a truly innovative medium.

The Filling Station is an interesting example of semi-permanency, as it has a lifespan for about two years. The question of lifespan is widening with new formats emerging from very short term and seasonal pop-ups to more substantial structures. Temporary, low cost and sustainable are all in-tune with times of austerity and uncertainty.