1. vitra fire station, germany

architects: zaha hadid

completed: 1993

current status: inactive

this aesthetically stunning fire station was designed in order to serve the vitra furniture manufacturing complex in weil am rhein due to all surrounding fire stations being out of range. this was rectified years later, disappointingly resulting in the station being used to showcase the company’s chair collection.

photo credit: danrocha

photo credit: nickehret

2. cologne fire brigade hq, germany

architects: bfm architekten

completed: 2005

current status: active

the circular building houses the local fire brigade whilst the other sections of the complex are home to the training and management departments of cologne fire brigade. the whole thing seems to resemble a smaller, redder version of the forthcoming bird’s nest in china.

3. ave fenix fire station, mexico

architects: at 103 architects

completed: 2006

current status: active

the amazing ave fenix fire station in mexico city contains a standard fire station, ‘fire library’, recruitment centre and other private & public spaces. the front end of the building is elevated above the ground whilst the interior is filled with a huge array of intriguing spaces and shapes.

4. hill street fire station, singapore

architects: municipal council of singapore

completed: 1908

current status: active

built in 1908 for s$64′000, this is the oldest existing fire station in singapore and when opened it signalled the end of horse-drawn firecarts. dotted with classical arches and columns, the building has been preserved and recently restored perfectly and is still used today.

photo credit: petrst

photo credit: ozlady

5. berlin fire station, germany

architects: sauerbruch hutton

completed: 2004

current status: active

this building was designed in 2002 by sauerbruch hutton architects and won the riba award in 2004. the station houses police cars, fire engines, control equipment and administrative offices and the red & green slats on the station’s exterior represent the emergency services within the building: green for the police, red for the fire brigade.

photo credit: janorama

photo credit: janorama

6. parque de bombas, puerto rico

architect: maximo meana

completed: 1882

current status: inactive

this beautiful gothic fire station was originally used as an exhibit pavilion for a trade fair in 1882 - soon afterwards the fire brigade moved in and served the town of ponce until 1990. mostly made of wood, the building is now an extremely popular firefighters’ museum. the bottom photo shows the station in the 1950s and looked nearly identical to its modern self.

photo credit: michael dillingham

photo credit: bflaccus

photo credit: lulubrian

7. houten fire station, netherlands

architects: samyn and partners

completed: 2000

current status: active

the implementation of the curved shell roof at the fire station in houten was ‘the result of the search for elegance of form’. the wall at the back of the open half is covered in pictures painted by local children from all 22 of the surrounding schools, a technique used in order to deter the kids from vandalising the station.

note: as always, any photos found on flickr are linked to the relevant user’s page.