Murphy Market
(Student Project)
Project Description
DESCRIPTION:
Murphy Market is the integration of a multi-functional building and outdoor plaza spaces, intended as a community forum for the southwest region of Atlanta. By definition, a market is a place of gathering for the public to purchase and sale provisions, livestock, and other commodities. Murphy Market is a synthesis of two community jump start initiatives and home of a new kind public forum. As a consortium, it incorporates a community-based planning effort that will attempt to break down the barriers between the public and trained design professions. A design studio for the Atlanta City Studios and offices for AIA Atlanta act as a primary program, aiming to connect to Atlanta’s diverse communities. The project works as an effort to clean up the previously existing brownfield site of Murphy Crossing. Programmatic spaces depict a radial organization scheme with the Westside Beltline Trail acting as a core. A radial-concentric approach was used to further strengthen the community aspect and integrate the Murphy Market into the cities fabric.
NARRATIVE:
Murphy Market seeks to diminish the boundary between buildings and nature by representing a cohesion of outdoor urban plaza spaces and multi-functional architecture Analysis of the site defines the region as a food desert. The proposal for a seasonal farmer’s market will act in conjunction with the Allen Avenue Urban Farm to provide the area with fresh produce, fruits, meats, and beverages, thus broadening the communities’ access to nutritious and organic foods. The site is characterized by high poverty, higher crime rate, and various diversities. Murphy then becomes a community center to the historical neighborhoods that it borders, either informally or for public events. The site’s proximity to the MARTA rail lines, the Westside Beltline Trail, and the future Atlanta Streetcar transit promotes alternative public transportation. The urban landscape provides lounge areas and biking paths that promotes an easier transition between the site and the Westside Beltline Trail. The usage of salvage wood for the structure and facade creates an engaging composition of light and opacity and permits the usage of natural passive systems. Murphy Market utilizes a rainwater harvesting system, retention ponds, an extensive green roofing, pervious surfaces, and native vegetation to achieve a net positive building efficiency. Murphy Market utilizes permeable paving stone and an accessible green roof to mitigate urban storm-water runoff and reduce the flow of pollutants from the site. Green remediation practices are utilized in the site excavation and surface restoration to reduce the negative impacts of soil erosion, fuel consumption, uncontrolled storm-water runoff, material disposal, and ecosystem disturbance. Analysis programs such as DIVA and Sefaira were used to test the performance of Murphy Market. The open public collaborative spaces, seasonal famer’s market, and urban plazas creates new social opportunities for the neighborhood to develop and promotes long-term usability of the site.
