GUILD COMMUNITY HQ

PROJECT BREIF:

​This project focuses on combining traditional craftsmanship with modern design by creating a craft guild that brings people together to encourage teamwork and foster community between the residents. The site, located along Hickory Creek in Denton County, will provide local craftsmen with spaces to work alone or together while also inviting the surrounding community to engage with them. The master plan will include plans for site access, parking, and outdoor spaces to ensure a welcoming environment for both the twenty craftsmen and numerous visitors.

Design Concepts

To address the project brief, the design concepts include both a farmers market and a community workshop. The farmers market is intended to encourage community interaction and attract visitors from outside the site, while the community workshop provides a space for craftsmen to collaborate and for locals to engage in classes, learning about various crafts.
Concept 1
The first concept focuses on eco brutalism, using raw materials and strong, geometric shapes to create a strong but sustainable design. The simple facades and design are meant to not distract from the craft happening inside, but instead highlight the importance of the work being done. This approach allows the building to support the purpose of craftsmanship without overpowering it, letting the skill and creativity of the craftsman take the focus. The farmers market includes space for food trucks, letting people from outside the site come in and sell their products, which both helps bring the community together, and draw attention to the site as a whole as a place where you can come to relax or spend time.
Concept 2
The second design has dome-shaped structures, each made from the materials the craftsmen work with, creating a connection between the building and the craft itself. The larger dome serves as a teaching space, where community members can gather to learn and engage with different crafts/craftsmen, while the smaller domes provide individual workspaces for the people on site. The farmers market incorporates circular shade structures, connecting the design of the market and the workshop buildings, creating a flow between the two areas. 
Concept 3
The third concept is inspired by the history of different crafts, with each craft’s origin shown in the building design. The triangle shape of both the building and the roof represents ancient Egyptian architecture, while the pillars on the side reflect the Chinese origins from pottery. The triangle chape can also be seen in the farmers' market, helping to connect the two areas and provide cohesion throughout the site.

FINAL DESIGN

​The final design was mainly based on the third concept, with the farmers' market directly taken from the first concept. However, the building design changed. Instead of the original radial layout, it now focuses more on triangles, with the entire floor plan made up of interlocking triangles.​

Community Workshop

​The final design for the community workshop area still connects to the history of the crafts on site, but it also creates a space that is easy to use for both working and teaching. The top triangle is for bathrooms, the middle triangle is for teaching, where people from outside the site can come and take free classes from the craftsmen. This allows them to not only learn the craft but also hopefully gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of it. The bottom two triangles are used as workshops for three of the four crafts on site. This area lets some of the craftsmen who live on site come over to the community space and work alongside others, which helps build a more connected community. Plus, the workshops are close to the teaching area, so people taking classes can easily use the tools they need for their craft while learning. This setup makes the space both functional and educational, encouraging people to get hands-on with the crafts and learn from those who practice them.

Farmers Market
​The farmers' market serves a variety of purposes. Not only does it attract visitors from outside the site, helping to bring attention to the crafts being practiced there, but it also provides a central gathering space for people to relax and socialize. The market includes areas for food trucks, benefiting both outside vendors and drawing visitors to the site, giving them a place to enjoy food or spend a Sunday afternoon. The shade structures follow the same overlapping triangle design as the main building, creating a cohesive visual connection. The farmers' market features four stalls, where not only the craftsmen on site can sell their work, but others can rent space to sell their homemade crafts. This offers small-scale artisans a chance to reach a broader audience. Lastly, the farmers' market also includes an outdoor kitchen teaching area. Similar to a master class, the culinary craftsmen can host classes under the shaded structures, sharing their craft with others and giving people the opportunity to learn hands-on.