Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Table, Chair, WindowsService Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Table, Chair, WindowsService Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Dining room, TableService Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Dining room, Table, Windows, Wood, ChairService Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - More Images+ 17

  • Architects: GSS arquitectos
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  21528 ft²
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2020
  • Photographs
    Photographs:João Guimarães
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Duravit, Margres, Aleluia Cerâmicas, Cinca, DMP, Fenparkett Wood, JNF, Jular, Knauf, Navarra, Ofa, Sanitana, TimberTech
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Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Exterior Photography
© João Guimarães

Text description provided by the architects. The project refers to the integral renovation of the interior of 2 existing buildings, which integrate the Mealhada service areas, on the A1 highway that connects the cities of Porto and Lisbon.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Table, Chair, Windows
© João Guimarães

The buildings are located in front of one another, giving us directions from the highway. Although the two buildings were morphologically different, it was intended that in the interior they would be practically the same in terms of occupation and architectural concept. Here was the main challenge.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Table, Chair
© João Guimarães
Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Image 16 of 22
Plan 01
Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Chair
© João Guimarães
Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Image 17 of 22
Plan 02
Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Shelving, Beam
© João Guimarães

The region where the Service Areas of Mealhada are located has very deep-rooted gastronomic characteristics, this being the reason for equipping these spaces with special conditions of use, such as, for example, a good restaurant in which people feel comfortable and choose not to leave the highway to take a meal.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Chair
© João Guimarães

The occupational program was very complete. Apart from the restaurant, we should also provide a self-service, a work station space, self-catering, a children's area, an esplanade, and a whole support service area, which integrates a kitchen, warehouses, spas, and cold rooms.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Dining room, Table, Windows, Wood, Chair
© João Guimarães

One particularity that was implemented in this project was the creation of “no-touch” restrooms. Without access door, but with bays that prevent visualization for the interior and lavatories with soap dispenser, water, and dryer. Everything without touching the object or any surface.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Lighting
© João Guimarães

The distinction of the different areas inside the buildings is also reflected in the finishes. In the living room, the ceilings form wooden pyramids, in the entrance hall protection rails from the highway were placed on the ceiling, as well as the screens that separate the areas allowing some transparency between spaces and ensuring the desired privacy.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Image 19 of 22
Section 02

The selected materials were carefully chosen in order to guarantee their durability over time and also easy maintenance.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Dining room, Table
© João Guimarães

On the outside, keeping the existing construction as much as possible, we made the windows wider, providing the interior space with more light and changing the exterior coatings with more contemporary materials, such as corten steel on the access ramps to the building.

Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos - Interior Photography, Table
© João Guimarães

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Project location

Address:3050 Mealhada, Portugal

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "Service Areas Brisa A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos" [Brisa - Áreas de Serviço A1 Mealhada / GSS arquitectos] 04 Jun 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/983047/service-areas-brisa-a1-mealhada-gss-arquitectos> ISSN 0719-8884

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