Since 2018, the Danish government has been inching closer to announcing a partial ban on internal combustion engines, with new vehicle sales set to be phased out by 2030. The city of Copenhagen even plans to oust all gas-powered passenger cars from its bike- and pedestrian-oriented urban core within the next decade. And while a lack of adequate electric charging facilities presents an obstacle to faster progress, the infrastructure is quickly expanding — accompanied by a dynamic new design language. Case in point? The Better Energy Charge prototype by EFFEKT.

Situated near the German border in the town of Sønderborg, the facility is a conspicuous aesthetic departure from a typical gas station. Framed by a permeable landscape furnished with seating and pockets of lush greenery, the timber charging structure is an organic counterpoint to the steel, concrete, asphalt, and glass commonly used across the typology. “We wanted the pavilion’s design to be organic and inviting, much like Danish furniture classics, says architect and EFFEKT co-founder Sinus Lynge. ‘We have used nature’s own materials — the construction is built in cross-laminated timber, which binds CO2 from the atmosphere throughout its entire lifespan.”

While the charging station signals an ecological environment, the design is made possible by its gasoline-free setting. Since EV facilities don’t need to accomodate toxic — and highly flammable — underground petro-chemicals, the paves the way for a more porous materials palette, incorporating plantings and natural materials such as wood, along with permeable paving. And although some EVs can take up to 15 minutes to fully charge, the longer process facilitates a more social and recreational ambiance. Drivers are invited to step outside as the batteries fill up, welcomed to stretch their legs and sit among the gardens.

As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) accelerated over the last decade, the architecture of electric charging continues to evolve to embrace an evolving reality. EFFEKT’s eye-catching design for the Better Energy Charge prototype follows another prominent Danish prototype by Copenhagen-based architects COBE, who unveiled a striking wooden charging station in 2019. In North America, a 2022 Canadian competition explored similar ideas, with the winning concepts all incorporating a varying mix of seating, greenery and organic materials into their designs. And while the relatively limited — yet gradually expanding — range of new electric vehicles still tempers more widespread adoption, places like EFFEKT’s prototype make the humble charging station a destination in itself.