Shell Shell | Reimagining the Energy Forecourt – Barnet and Fulham, London
Bowman Riley worked with Shell on two pioneering London projects that explored how the traditional petrol filling station could evolve to meet changing customer needs and the transition towards electric mobility.
Our relationship with Shell began with a competition-winning design for a flagship forecourt in Barnet, combining traditional fuel with fast electric vehicle charging. This was followed by the transformation of an existing Shell site in Fulham into the company’s first fully electric vehicle charging hub.
Together, the projects demonstrated how thoughtful design, customer experience and emerging technology could reshape the traditional forecourt.
Flagship Shell Forecourt – Barnet
Bowman Riley won a design competition to create a flagship Shell forecourt in the London Borough of Barnet.
The scheme replaced an existing traditional fuel filling station with a new facility designed around customer choice, with an ambition to provide an equal balance of traditional and electric refuelling.
The new forecourt incorporated an enhanced convenience store, café and drive-through offer, alongside the latest fuel and rapid-charging technology.
Sustainability was central to the design, with low-carbon technologies, renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling incorporated into the proposals. The project was intended to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating and demonstrated Shell’s commitment to the energy transition.
Shell Electric Vehicle Charge Hub – Fulham
Following the success of the Barnet competition, Bowman Riley was invited to develop designs for Shell’s first fully electric vehicle charging hub in Fulham.
The project transformed a traditional fuels site into an entirely electric facility, providing rapid charging alongside a more comfortable and engaging customer experience.
We introduced a dedicated area where customers could work while their vehicles charged, together with refreshments from Waitrose and Costa Coffee.
Two prefabricated timber glulam canopies were designed to support a solar array, with semi-transparent photovoltaic panels providing shelter while allowing natural light through to the charging area. A sustainable drainage strategy incorporated permeable paving and underground attenuation.
We also redesigned Shell’s traditional monolith signage, developing a new digital version for Shell Global that provided live information for approaching electric vehicle drivers.
Designing for the future
Together, the Barnet and Fulham projects demonstrated Bowman Riley’s experience in designing for a rapidly changing energy landscape.
From integrating electric vehicle charging into a new-generation forecourt to completely reimagining an existing petrol station as an electric charging hub, the projects placed customer experience, sustainability and innovation at the heart of the design.
Our work helped Shell explore new ways of delivering energy infrastructure that responded to changing technology and the evolving needs of drivers.
Two projects. One changing industry. A new generation of energy forecourts.