Now in the evenings here they listen to rap at one end of the building and play bridge, exchange recipes and dance to the accordion at the other. However, Berlioz Street, which crosses Nance Island from west to east, witnessed not such events.
The real urbanization of Nance Island, part of the Canadian archipelago of Hochelaga, began in 1962, after the opening of the Chamlin Bridge. The giant developer Metropolitan Structures took over, changing the city-planning image of Chicago in its time. The developer, scrupulously implementing the master plan, had certain agreements with Mies, who, with the help of a local architect, created three residential high-rises in 1966, and in 1969 - a small masterpiece of modernism, a gas station.
The filling consisted of two volumes united by a flat roof. A repair shop was set up inside one of them, and a shop inside the other. The upright and girder frame was welded from steel parts and painted black.
The years passed. Over time, a car wash appeared on the site of the store. And in 2008, the gas station closed, officially becoming an architectural heritage site. The renovation was commissioned by Éric Gauthier, head of Les Architectes FABG. First of all, the builders dismantled the corroded steel enclosing wall, re-expanded the joints in the filling brickwork, and painted the metal frame. Then, the two volumetric elements were reconfigured. The wall contour of the youth club was painted black, and the “compartment” for the older generation was painted white. At the final stage, a glass shell with a low iron content was built. Thus, a view along the longitudinal axis was opened, and a visual connection was established both between the volumes and between the interior and the environment. The roof has remained a recognizable characteristic element; its dominant feature in the interior is accentuated by fluorescent lighting.
Speaking about engineering networks, it should be noted that the air conditioning and ventilation systems were completely replaced. It is now supposed to heat the premises with the help of heat pumps that draw geothermal energy. This is how the architectural masterpiece turned into a modern eco-friendly building. Maybe not so bad for a heritage site?
A. B.
