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
| Aug 19, 2011
Thought Leader: Boyd R. Zoccola, chair and chief elected officer of BOMA International
Boyd R. Zoccola is Chair and Chief Elected Officer of BOMA International. A BOMA member since 1994, he has served on the Executive, Finance, Investment, and Medical/Healthcare Facilities Committees. An Indiana Real Estate Principal Broker and a board member of the Real Estate Round Table, he is Executive Vice President of Hokanson Companies, Inc., of Indianapolis, and has been involved in the development of $600 million worth of real estate. On a volunteer basis, Zoccola was president of Horizon House and a board member of Girls, Inc. He holds a BA in biology from Indiana University.
| Aug 19, 2011
How and why AEC professionals choose flooring systems
Design and construction professionals who completed our flooring survey had strong opinions about their preferred flooring type.
| Aug 19, 2011
Underfloor air distribution, how to get the details right
Our experts provide solid advice on the correct way to design and construct underfloor air distribution systems, to yield significant energy savings.
| Aug 19, 2011
Enhanced acoustical design
Ambient noise levels in some facility types are trending up and becoming a barrier to clear communication between building occupants.
| Jul 22, 2011
The Right Platform for IPD
Workstations for successful integrated project delivery, a white paper by Dell and BD+C.
| Jul 22, 2011
High-performance windows and doors
Learning objectives After reading this article, you should be able to: Understand issues of thermal performance and energy efficiency in relation to window and door systems; describe optimal detailing of the window-wall interface and how it contributes to building performance, sustainability, and occupant well-being; understand how durability contributes to sustainable windows/doors; and list sustainable O&M requirements for window and door systems.
| Jul 21, 2011
Falling Architecture Billings Index reflects decrease in design demands
This months Architecture Billings Index (ABI), provided by the American Institute of Architects, is almost a full point lower than last month’s reported score. June’s reading of 47.2 was short of the required 50 to achieve billings increases, making July’s reading of 46.3 an unwelcome sign of market tidings.
