The challenge for the construction of the Texaco service station on the E40 road in Heverlee in Belgium was to align seamlessly with the neighboring Egenhove forest. Architects office Absis architecten won the competition with a design that was bound to shine. The station now in use is made up of a primary structure consisting of a canopy roof and carried by concrete columns. A secondary steel structure supports the first floor and is surrounded by glass walls with a printed tree design. The underside of the canopy was designed with Hunter Douglas Luxalon® 300L Wide Panel exterior ceiling providing clean, sleek appearance.

The project includes the new estate of a hotel, two service stations on both sides of the E40 motorway including a shop, a restaurant and a cafeteria. “The facility island” is an exemple of the architectural design which takes into account several ecological principles. The building is made out of a ‘super structure’ which is carried by branched columns in white decorative concrete. A large penthouse across the motorway will catch the attention of the motorists and will persuade them to use the modern petrol station facilities. The concrete super structure is combined with a flexible structure of steel, beams, columns and non load bearing walls. The skin of the building is made out of super -insulating glass using the image of trees and leaves to give a natural touch to the building. The images function as a great reference to the Egenhovebos, a forrest in the vicinity of the Texaco petrol station. The large concrete crossings and the window print make it possible to restrict the cooling necessity. The temporary partnership STRABAG Belgium nv and Stadsbader was responsible for this new estate project.