The Houston Farmers Market was awarded a 2021 AIA Houston Design Award last month in the category Architecture Greater than 50,000 SQFT. Congratulations to Studio Red Architects, the architecture firm responsible for the design that revitalized the community space.
A staple in the community for more than 75 years, the 17.5-acre Houston Farmer’s Market has long served as a gathering space in the community. While the original space had a certain nostalgia, it needed additional functionality and important safety feature upgrades. The revitalization provides additional green space throughout the site, reducing impervious cover and fostering a safe, walkable environment. It features an event lawn, outdoor patio, dining courtyard, and multiple gardens. The open-air market maintains the charm of the original space, while also allowing vendors to customize their store fronts. As the landscape architect on this project, our scope included site landscaping, entry and drop off points, open multi-use lawn, and a park-like green space with a playground.
The AIA Houston Design Awards program recognizes design excellence in architecture, residential architecture, interior architecture, restoration/renovation, and urban design. Criteria to be used by the jury include quality of design, resolution of the program idea, and sustainability. In the virtual award ceremony, one of the judges commented on how inviting the upgraded design is for a diverse-range of Houstonians to gather, shop, and play.