flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

4 design concepts that remake the urban farmer's market

4 design concepts that remake the urban farmer's market

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recorded an increase of 5,000 farmer's markets nationwide in the past decade. 


By BD+C Staff | June 30, 2014
The winning design by Bart Shaw, AIA. Rendering courtesy of AIA.
The winning design by Bart Shaw, AIA. Rendering courtesy of AIA.

Even though open-air markets have existed a disproportionately longer time than supermarkets and other types of grocery stores, there hasn’t been much innovation injected into the vendors’ stands, both in design and functionality.

In response to this, the American Institute of Architects’ Small Project Practitioners knowledge community launched a competition to address the design problem of most farmer’s markets’ tents which are usually lightweight, bland, nondescript white vinyl pop up canopies with portability that, though convenient, demands vendors to get creative when anchoring them to the ground when no stakes are allowed.

The winning designs were presented on Wednesday at the AIA 2014 National Convention and Design Exposition in Chicago.

Submissions were due in March 2014 and judged based on how they complied with design parameters: protecting vendors and produce from elements, easy to carry for one person when disassembled, easy to brand on and cost effective at a $500 budget.

The competition will occur every year in collaboration with the AIA National Convention host city. In accordance to the farmer’s market philosophy of keeping things local, the competitions will also focus on solving a local design dilemma while involving a local non-for-profit which would benefit from the constructed winning design.

Let’s take a look at the winning designs that hopefully will start to pop-up in many of the 8,100 farmers markets nationwide:

(all descriptions by AIA)

 

1. G Model (Winner) by Bart Shaw, AIA of Bart Shaw Architect

The solution is a simple stable structure that provides elegant protection for a farmers market vendor. The structure provides a platform for custom printed fabric to be wrapped. When transported it serves as a hand truck, so goods and the canopy can be moved simultaneously. This project will be built on the expo floor of the 2014 AIA National Convention and will be donated to the local non-for-profit partner, Growing Home Chicago, for use by their clients and program participants.

 

2. Box it Up (Honorable Mention) by Robin Osler of EOA/Elmslie Osler Architect, Chris Shelley, Joanna Torres

A series of plywood boxes serve not only as canopy weights, but also as table, stool, and multipurpose display fixtures. The simple box shape offers maximum flexibility as the elements can be stacked and arranged in various configurations depending on the needs of each farmer. Finally, a colorful canopy of re-purposed billboard vinyl provides shelter from the elements.

 

3. Folding Farm II (Honorable Mention) by Jeffery S. Poss, FAIA of small studio, Illinois School of Architecture, Charles Huss, David Emmons, Jordan Buckner

Folding Farm II (FFII) is a bicycle-powered produce transport vehicle and a deployable farm stand. The FFII’s canvas canopy is collapsed to cover and protect the produce during transport. At the market, the bicycle is disconnected and the bracing bar is swung down to stabilize the cart. Then the canopy is deployed and the produce bins are tilted for display. Ratcheted bracing bars lock the canopy and produce bins into position.

 

4. Naked (Best Use of Innovative Technology) by Ar. Pragesh Pramod Khanna, Vastu Srajan

Arches ensure the stability of the structure enabling it to withstand around 750lb of wind pressure and velocity calculation of 90miles/hour. The arches utilize fidu science making the design versatile as it converts from a 6" roll of metal strip, with the use of a bicycle air pump, to form the frame of the structure.

Related Stories

| Mar 13, 2014

Simon Perkowitz to join KTGY Group

Perkowitz, the founder of Perkowitz + Ruth, will assist KTGY in responding to the demands and further development of its growing retail/commercial division. 

| Mar 12, 2014

London grows up: 236 tall buildings to be added to skyline in coming decade, says think tank

The vast majority of high-rise projects in the works are residential towers, which could help tackle the city's housing crisis, according to a new report by New London Architecture.

| Mar 12, 2014

Final call for entries! BUILDINGChicago 2014 call for educational proposals

The Advisory Committee of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland 2014 Conference is accepting proposals for presenters and topics through this Friday, March 14.

| Mar 12, 2014

14 new ideas for doors and door hardware

From a high-tech classroom lockdown system to an impact-resistant wide-stile door line, BD+C editors present a collection of door and door hardware innovations. 

| Mar 12, 2014

AIA gives support to legislation to assist architecture students with debt

The National Design Services Act will give architecture students relief from student loan debt in return for community service. 

| Mar 12, 2014

New CannonDesign database allows users to track facility assets

The new software identifies critical failures of components and systems, code and ADA-compliance issues, and systematically justifies prudent expenditures.

| Mar 11, 2014

7 (more) awe-inspiring interior designs [slideshow]

The seven winners of the 41st Interior Design Competition and the 22nd Will Ching Design Competition include projects on four different continents.

| Mar 11, 2014

Freelon Group to join Perkins+Will

The Freelon Group concentrates on museums, libraries, universities and other civic and institutional clients; Perkins+Will plans to incorporate this specialization into their design repertory.

| Mar 10, 2014

Meet Tally – the Revit app that calculates the environmental impact of building materials

Tally provides AEC professionals with insight into how materials-related decisions made during design influence a building’s overall ecological footprint.

Sponsored | | Mar 10, 2014

A high-performance barn

Bastoni Vineyards replaces a wooden barn with an efficient metal building used for maintenance, storage, and hosting events.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Resiliency

Austin area evacuation center will double as events venue

A new 45,000 sf FEMA-operated evacuation shelter in the Greater Austin metropolitan area will begin construction this fall. The center will be available to house people in the event of a disaster such as a major hurricane and double as an events venue when not needed for emergency shelter.



halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021