Michi no eki, architetture ibride sulle autostrade del Giappone

Since their appearance in the early 1900s, service stations have spread globally as elements of support for large infrastructures, supplying vehicles in transit as well as off ering a series of primary services to passengers, such as parking or access to public restrooms. In 1947, the birth of the 􀃶 rst motorway service restaurant expanded the range of services they could off er, with the introduction of areas speci􀃶 cally intended for travellers, the characteristic features of which (especially after the advent of bridge-type motorway restaurants) have become a landmark of the Italian landscape. At the typological level, however, service areas have undergone very few changes over time, and in this sense, the types spread around the world today are substantially the same as those found in Italy, from which they diff er only in technical terms. The only exception to this scenario of typological standardization is Japan where, since the 1990s, a new concept of service platform was introduced called michi no eki (literally “road station” or “roadside station”). This system is diff erent from all other motorway architecture in the world and aims to improve the quality of travel while promoting the cultural and economic development of the area (or region) in which it is located.