Incorporated within the existing Escobedo Creamery building in west San Antonio, the plan for the vacant property is to provide a new space for the community to celebrate their rich food culture. The main building will be occupied by the Escobedo Market, a small market focused on providing locally sourced food as well as everyday items. The second building on the property will become the Escobedo Ice Cream Parlor, celebrating the building’s long heritage as a milk bottling facility. The buildings are arranged along a central axis which serves as a new gathering place and walkway for the community. The walkway and its adjacent courtyards can be transformed into space during the weekend for farmer’s market and other such events. The site will incorporate vegetation which produces fruit free for the community to gather as they pass by. This will help to encourage curiosity about where and how their food is grown. The material pallet of the new building complements the surrounding neighborhood and the existing structures on the property, while also alluding to the idea of transparency in the growth and production of food.
The goal of Escobedo Market is to provide the surrounding community with fresh and local food directly reflecting local cuisine. The food will be well labeled explaining where and how the food was grown or produced. The market space will include a large selection of fresh locally grown produce, selection of dry and frozen goods, a small selection of fresh baked goods from local bakeries, and a variety of meats prepared by local butcher shops.
Space Arrangement
Market (Blue)
Ice Cream Parlor (Green)
Service (Purple)
Water Collection
Water will be collected from the buildings and held in a storage tank located in the courtyard. The water collection will not be enough to support the whole complex but will provide water for site vegetation. The goals of the water catchment system are to educate the community in runoff water collecting as well as provide for site irrigation.
Public Space
The site will be adaptable to a variety of event spaces. Included in this will be weekend farmer’s markets where local farmers can sell directly to the public. This will encourage interaction between the farmers and local community they service.
Edible Vegetation
The vegetation on site will be made up of fruit barring plants and trees. Encouraging and teaching the public about where and how their food is grown is a central part of the market’s goal. The fruit from these plants will be free for anyone to come and pick. Additionally information will be shared about the plants and how to grow their own, which will encourage personal gardening on their own lots.
Section A
Section B
The exterior material, brick, was selected to represent the balance between the residential typology, brick homes, and consistency with the one of the original materials used in the original construction. With the juxtaposition of the translucent panels which brighten the area with natural daytime light and reduce the emission of light from the building during nighttime hours the Creamery fits and surrounding economic and social make up of this neighborhood.
Facade material study and wall section
Interior render A
Interior render E
Exterior render D