Northshore Car Wash Twohill and James

In regional towns and cities across Australia, the car reigns supreme. The time-honoured tradition of “chucking a blockie” or “hacking a mainy” (driving around the inner city or up and down the main street) remains a favourite pastime. It is a well-worn adage that “if you can’t park out front, don’t bother going.” But while the car is central to regional life, it is not often a catalyst for good design. Usually, the pragmatics of parking and car servicing dominate new development, as big-box stores in large sheds stamped with universalized corporate branding become the hallmark of growing settlements. Townsville’s Northshore Car Wash offers a delightful alternative, overlaying the essential components of a small utilitarian service building with an expressive armature that endeavours to create a sense of place and identity.

Architecture practice Twohill