COMMERCIAL PORTFOLIO
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Splash
Car Wash |
This unusual project is located on a long, narrow lot in an industrial area of Washington near Capitol Hill. Given the grey, gritty and cluttered visual context of the site, the design relies on simple planes of strong color. |
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Entrance to the facility is through a wide portal in the courtyard, which includes a small pond with aquatic plants and live fish that bring a touch of nature to this otherwise desolate section of the city. Another playful touch is the incorporation of hubcaps from classic cars into the car wash tunnel. |
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The complex includes a state-the-art car wash, detailing area, quick lube facility, customer waiting area and offices. Customers are directed to the service of their choice with colorful signage and clear directional markings. |
| Splash includes a recycling system that drastically reduces the facility’s consumption of water. As a further conservation measure, waste oil is recycled from the lube facility and used for heating. |
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Photos by Roger Bass & Alan Karchmer
© R.W. Bass A.I.A. Architects, Chartered, DBA Bass Architects, Chartered