Poster Abstract Details

Author(s):
Tyler Smithson

Affiliation:
Auburn University

Presentation Type:
Poster

Topic Area:
Application of ecological research in land-use planning

Abstract Text:
Marketplaces have facilitated for the activity of buying and selling food for our cities and towns for centuries. At the heart of every city, public markets are established gathering places for cultural exchange and social interaction. Alongside the earliest examples of human settlement, markets have the unique status of being the most enduring, universal form or urban food marketing and distribution (Spitzer, 2). Markets have allowed civilizations to advance through specialization of jobs and through the diversification of local economies. However, in most post-industrial cities, Markets have lost their sense of place through exportation of local economy, dilution of culture through suburban expansion, advances in technology, ease of transportation and through the advent of globalization of food markets. Today, enduring examples of successful markets that are beginning to take shape. Among the best examples are Portland’s Saturday Market, Charleston’s City Market and New Orleans’ French Market. Providing as tourist attractions and serving leading roles in the local economy, Markets have facilitated for community involvement and put millions of dollars back into cities. The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence that appropriately conceived and rigorously implemented market startups can help to revitalize downtown economic conditions through facilitating for cultural and economic exchange. The methods that I use merge sustainable design principles with community development guidelines to investigate market feasibility through design analysis derived from case study analysis, section studies, GIS mapping. Through contextual analysis, community collaboration, and intensive studies on urban markets the idea of Joseph Market was born. Initially, the design studio aimed towards green street infrastructure and the development of sustainable methods of remediating the cities stormwater infrastructure problems. However, the scope evolved to include adaptive reuse of historical landscapes (Bienville Square), providing food access to underserved residents and the creation of traditional market retailing to revitalize Mobile from the bottom-up. Integrating the multiple focuses of the project, a cumulative design was conceived, drawn and modeled. In conclusion, this paper establishes a framework for the justification Joseph Market and its capability to aid in reinvestment of the City of Mobile.