1. vitra fire station, germany
architects: zaha hadid
completed: 1993
current status: inactive
this aesthetically stunning fire station was designed in order to serve the vitra furniture manufacturing complex in weil am rhein due to all surrounding fire stations being out of range. this was rectified years later, disappointingly resulting in the station being used to showcase the company’s chair collection.
photo credit: danrocha
photo credit: nickehret
2. cologne fire brigade hq, germany
architects: bfm architekten
completed: 2005
current status: active
the circular building houses the local fire brigade whilst the other sections of the complex are home to the training and management departments of cologne fire brigade. the whole thing seems to resemble a smaller, redder version of the forthcoming bird’s nest in china.
3. ave fenix fire station, mexico
architects: at 103 architects
completed: 2006
current status: active
the amazing ave fenix fire station in mexico city contains a standard fire station, ‘fire library’, recruitment centre and other private & public spaces. the front end of the building is elevated above the ground whilst the interior is filled with a huge array of intriguing spaces and shapes.
4. hill street fire station, singapore
architects: municipal council of singapore
completed: 1908
current status: active
built in 1908 for s$64′000, this is the oldest existing fire station in singapore and when opened it signalled the end of horse-drawn firecarts. dotted with classical arches and columns, the building has been preserved and recently restored perfectly and is still used today.
photo credit: petrst
photo credit: ozlady
5. berlin fire station, germany
architects: sauerbruch hutton
completed: 2004
current status: active
this building was designed in 2002 by sauerbruch hutton architects and won the riba award in 2004. the station houses police cars, fire engines, control equipment and administrative offices and the red & green slats on the station’s exterior represent the emergency services within the building: green for the police, red for the fire brigade.
photo credit: janorama
photo credit: janorama
6. parque de bombas, puerto rico
architect: maximo meana
completed: 1882
current status: inactive
this beautiful gothic fire station was originally used as an exhibit pavilion for a trade fair in 1882 - soon afterwards the fire brigade moved in and served the town of ponce until 1990. mostly made of wood, the building is now an extremely popular firefighters’ museum. the bottom photo shows the station in the 1950s and looked nearly identical to its modern self.
photo credit: michael dillingham
photo credit: bflaccus
photo credit: lulubrian
7. houten fire station, netherlands
architects: samyn and partners
completed: 2000
current status: active
the implementation of the curved shell roof at the fire station in houten was ‘the result of the search for elegance of form’. the wall at the back of the open half is covered in pictures painted by local children from all 22 of the surrounding schools, a technique used in order to deter the kids from vandalising the station.
note: as always, any photos found on flickr are linked to the relevant user’s page.