Petrol Station

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Routes · Subcategory: Rationalism route · Year: 1956 · Authors: Fermín Suárez Valido

This is a work of undoubted plasticity and formal protagonism, and yet is quite simplistic. It is the creation of Fermín Suárez Valido, an interesting and highly productive Gran Canaria architect whose main characteristic was building several of his works on outstanding urban landmarks [...] This urban reference and landmark can definitely be applied to this building, as it is situated in an urban site contravening all the characteristics of the surrounding area, as its front was completely non-aligned, the whole block is on different levels and curved "in the shape of a grand piano" (Pérez Parrilla). This ruptured style was further exaggerated in the project's first version and construction, built on just two levels: the lower floor being a petrol station and the upper floor with offices, connecting up to the roadside in both directions from its corner location. 

The building has a highly expressionist style and evident influences of Hans Scharoun. [...] However the point of imbalance which is so common in Scharounian works is not present in the Suárez Valido petrol station design. On the contrary, it is a balanced structure; a work of considerable merit, and high up on the list of architectural masterpieces in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

28.10881, -15.420932