Urban Markets
I am returning to the office after a long weekend in Chicago and am still on a “city high.” The older I get the more admiration and respect I have for large cities. Amongst the many reasons, here are my top contenders:
The close proximity to every place you’d want to be urges one to depend less on a car and explore new means of transportation. Navigating around a bustling city is an adventure in itself, and the public transportation makes it so easy, quick, and exciting! The cultural diversity of the people, attractions, and oh yes, the food, introduces a world of new discoveries. Yet above all, I truly admire the quaint grocery markets located every few blocks.
How many times a week do you drive yourself to the grocery store? If you’re anything like me you forgot the single item on your list in which you went to the store for in the first place (which you won’t realize until your back home). After a quick meltdown you hop back into your car and drive back to the store, grumbling over the wasted gas and time that gallon of milk just cost you. In a city, you’ll walk a few blocks and you’re back where you started with nothing but time wasted.
Yes, I’ll say it, I love urban markets! I believe they are a step in the right solution to establishing sustainable communities because they stray away from the conventional super stores such as Safeway, Walmart, or King Soopers. They are conveniently located so that local residents can carry with them their reusable grocery bags to grab only what they need, as they likely aren’t getting there by car. Sure, it may not be as easy as hopping in your car to stock up, but the city makes us work for it and I find there is something refreshing about that. Hey, we all need to eat, so why not establish our communities around neighborhood food markets?
Grow Market
You just learned that urban markets make me happy. Nonetheless, I am very eager to share with you that WORKSHOP8 is adding to this movement and has been coordinating a really cool project with the Denver Housing Authority. In the entry level of the Sunvalley Gateway South building you will find one of those charming markets. Wouldn’t you be happy to walk downstairs in your pajamas to pick up a few items? Dare I say it gets better?
In conjunction with Grow Market will be Grow Gardens, an urban community garden where city folks can get their hands dirty, mingle with their fellow neighbors, learn new skills, and contribute to producing some of the fresh produce that Grow Market will sell.
I cannot wait to see these projects come to fruition.
Green is the New Gray
Moving on with more green initiatives I admire about cities:
I’ve been hearing the terms “urban farming” and “vertical gardens” quite often lately, so I wanted to use this moment to appreciate the urban garden walls all over the world. Prepare to be inspired!
Vent Vert, Tokyo
Bosco Verticale, Italy
Musée du quai Branly, Paris, France
Agora Garden, Taiwan
ACROS International Hall, Japan
Short Lane, Australia
1 Hotel, New York City
Chicago, I love you!
Everybody, please add it to your bucket list to take the architectural tour of Chicago. In addition to seeing some spectacular architecture, you get to stroll the canal by boat and enjoy a full bar. It’s pretty fantastic.
Happy Gardening Everybody!
Maris DuBois | STUDIO MANAGER
28 October 2018
(From left : Myself, Chelsea, and Marcel attending the Month of Modern “We Built this City!” launch party).
