HOW CAN STREET FURNISHING DESIGN BRING LIFE TO PUBLIC SPACE? UNFOLD THE POTENTAL OF MODULARITY.

As part of a larger initiative to activate alleyways in Washington DC, our team worked with local organizations to design a family of mobile market stalls. Capitalizing on a popular weekly farmer’s market nearby, three of the stall types work together to support food preparation and instruction.

The COOK stall is designed with the chef and their students in mind: it has a power hookup for hot plates and a flip-up mirror for cooking demonstrations. To eliminate clutter and maximize counter space, all electrical components are concealed within the cabinets.

The WASH stall is a utilitarian station. At the under-mounted workstation sink, the chef can clean produce, wash and store cooking utensils in the sink, and then cover the sink to provide extra counter space. A water filtration system collects wastewater so it can be dumped or reused, enabling full mobility.

The SELL station is designed for flexible storage and display space. Its perforated steel display screen, extendable counter, and pull-out storage bench allow any retailer to customize their display space to suit their needs.

The STORE station allows users to secure their supplies safely out of the way.

When working together, the kiosks operate as a small market storefront in public space. This design approach affords flexibility to both users and event organizers, making them an ideal product for placemaking.

Material Innovation
The Kiosks were designed to operate in an urban environment. They need to traverse varying terrains, endure a host of environmental conditions, be easy to clean, store away, and remain robust and durable for long-term usage. The kiosks are sized to fit in a storage container and be easily moved from site to site by a small team of people.

Working with a local fabricator, our team selected materials that would deliver on both functional and aesthetic requirements. The colors of the powder-coated steel frames were derived from the brand identities of our community partners. The frames host marine-grade plywood cabinets with food-safe stainless steel countertops. Hinged side panels swing up to make a long continuous counter when the kiosks are set side by side.

Perforated metal panels swing up to make shade devices, held in place by hydraulic lift support struts. At the ground level, 10” polyurethane rear wheels keep the Kiosk as quiet as possible when moving; 4” castors up front help the Kiosks to change direction easily.