car wash blog

The ever critical car wash store is much more than just a place to pay for your car wash. If the architecture and interiors are done correctly, it can turn the chore of getting a car wash into a pleasant shopping experience.

This first round of design for the car wash store interiors was intended to reflect the concepts used on the exterior (see previous post): the screen, simple signs, and improved flow.

The cabinetry is composed of stacked pieces of wood of various widths that provide different shelving depths, dramatic shadow lines, and visually relate to the screens used on the exterior. Storage areas just below the display areas are intended to ease the merchandise stocking.

Simple, one word signs such as "write" (cards) and "give" (gifts) were intended to provide a customer with the essence of what was available in that portion of the store.

A birds-eye view of the store layout.

The floor plan of the store before the proposed remodel.

Several layouts were explored and flow diagrams created to see how to improve the customers experience of moving through the store.

These initial interior layouts included a take-out style cafe.

Although the client was very happy with these concepts for the store, the final constructed design of the store is fairly different, matching the reduced scope of the overall car wash project.

Aside from the necessary aesthetic makeover, Modative's initial concept was to rethink the car wash process by making it less of a "chore" and into more of a positive "experience", like going to Starbucks, or the spa.

We also envisioned the car wash having far less of the visual clutter typical of car washes by reducing the number of signs and replacing them with smart design moves that create an atmosphere of high end service.

Concept Sketches

We created concept sketches using trace paper over existing photos of the various car wash areas. Some of these sketch ideas were then further visualized with quick renderings. Here's a glimpse into the process:

Before picture of the front of the main building (waiting area).

We took the photo into Photoshop and stripped it down to the bare structure as a starting point for sketching some ideas.

This concept sketch was about creating a higher canopy over the waiting area to create more presence at the street.

Before picture of the car wash ordering area -sign clutter.

Concept sketch of a cleaner wash ordering area with minimal signs and clear lane distinction.

Concept rendering of the car wash ordering area - a more refined look.

Before photo of the car wash detailing area.

Our concept was to make this detail area more substantial and call it the car spa.

We thought that the detail area or "car spa" could have its own waiting area for the VIP customers.

A rendering of the car spa, complete with a green (vegetated roof) to help control runoff.