The franchise gas station: a study of agenda, subtext, and consequence

The icon of the corporate gas station is a familiar site to any mobile consumer in the United States. Its familiarity is a result of the high demand for a product and repeated structures present in each community. according to the marketing material, such recognition is a desired architectural end, yet this end is not the result of architectural endeavors alone. For the advancement of the corporation, marketing is used here to promote the ease of use and the desired corporate image. There is no fault in such a procedure. It is interesting to consider the gas station as a paradox of forces and intentions. The paradox consists of the images of the literature and the reality of the structure. The literature projects an image of desired harmony, non-obtrusive and neutral participation in any environment. At the same time, the recognition of a moulded and repeatable form is used to attract and comfort the customer into a situation of “brand recognition”. Therefore, the building distinguishes itself from its background. Obviously, this is not in order to advance profits by attracting customers. Neither interest is “incorrect” yet the dually directed function of the structure is not always expected or considered. Claiming the accommodation of both the community and customers within the same structure is a desired policy of the corporation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Architecture

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Architecture

Department dc:contributor.department

Architecture

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Perkins, Audrey Rebecca Ann

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Dugas, David
• Dugas, David M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Siegle, Robert
• O'Brien, Michael J.
• Galloway, William U.
• Siegle, Robert B.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/52133

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/52133