Exploring the Architecture of Place in America's Farmers Markets

Kathryn Clarke Albright

EXPLORING THE ARCHITECTURE OF PLACE IN AMERICA'S FARMERS MARKETS explores the elusive architectural space of these beloved community-gathering places. From classic market buildings such as Findlay Market in Cincinnati, to open-air pavilions in Durham North Carolina and pop-up canopy markets in Staunton, Virginia, the country currently has over 8,700 seasonal and year-round farmers markets.

Architect, teacher, and founder of the Friends of the Farmers Market, Kathryn Clarke Albright combines historically informed architectural observation with interview material and images drawn from conversations with farmers, vendors, market managers and shoppers.

Using eight scales of interaction and interface, Albright presents in-depth case studies to demonstrate how architectural elements and spatial conditions foster social and economic exchange between vendors, shoppers, and the community at large. Albright looks ahead to an emerging typology—the mobile market—bringing local farmers and healthy foods to underserved neighborhoods.

The impact farmers markets make on their local communities inspires place-making, improves the local economy, and preserves rural livelihoods. Developed organically and distinctively out of the space they occupy, these markets create and revitalize communities as rich as the produce they sell.

National Farmers Market Directory The open access interactive edition is of this book is available thanks to a generous TOME grant from Virginia Tech University.

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National Farmers Market Directory The open access interactive edition is of this book is available thanks to a generous TOME grant from Virginia Tech University. Purchase a paperback copy of Exploring the Architecture of Place in America's Farmers Markets

Read Here!Download

Purchase a paperback copy of Exploring the Architecture of Place in America's Farmers Markets

Cover design by Alisa Strauss

Praise for Exploring the Architecture of Place in America's Farmers Markets

“Albright provides local activists and civic leaders with practical, “news you can use” perspectives on how to launch and/or strengthen farmers markets and the measurable economic and community development benefits to those communities.”

—Terry Grundy, DAAP School of Planning, University of Cincinnati

“Compelling, easy to read. Albright offers a unique perspective that will help people become more aware of the value of their local markets as public places.”

—Steve Davies, co-founder of Project for Public Spaces

“This book is a pleasure to read and an excellent guide to the history of farmers markets and their critical role in recapturing a “sense of place” in the cities of America. A forceful byte arm invitation to “come to the market.”

—Jim Tarbell, former Cincinnati city councilman and Vice Mayor of city and county Planning Commission