When we think about market halls, for too many of us the first thing that pops into our mind are negative aspects, the opposite of elegance: an abundance of visual, and olfactory stimuli, with crowds of rushed people loaded with shopping bags. All the rumpus from merchants transform sound into noise, and the overwhelming flavors turn into an indescribable fusion. Often, market halls do not have well-thought, architectural spaces, and then there is all the trash, which is more than often improperly stored.
The big number of market halls in our country is a reflection of a healthy society, which did not give up in the face of the food industry so that processed products become cheaper than a home-made meal. In USA, a bottle of water is more expensive than a Coca-Cola can, and there you can save more money if you buy fast-food rather than prepare food at home. It is no wonder that John Mackey became interested in the fruit and vegetable marketing industry and then tried to give people a more natural option. The founder of the American chain stores, Whole Foods Market, would not give up on his ideals even for his dying mother’s wish. When he was just a greengrocer, she, unsuccessfully, tried to make him give up on his dream because she was deeply concerned that without a college degree he would probably not have much success in life.
Fortunately, in Sfântu Gheorghe, the market hall is still a preferred place for shopping, always full of people, but small in size and with poor working conditions. To solve this issue, a new one is proposed nearby. On the chosen site there is a building from the Interwar Years, which was highly appreciated by the city administration and the designers as well. Therefore, it was decided to be kept and integrated into the proposal, even if it is not listed as a historical monument.
The rehabilitation of an old building and adding a new volume to it is a more complicated process than demolishing and constructing a completely new one, both from the design or construction point of view. But in this manner, the memory of this place is kept alive, while the new works together with the old in harmony. At the connection between the existing halls and the proposed body, a particular space is created. The exterior, historical facades become part of the interior, while an abundance of light fill up the space through translucent wall-panels.
In the design phase, the light was a very important factor we worked with. We proposed a generous amount of translucent and transparent surfaces, both for the vertical enclosure, and for the horizontal ones as well. In the central space of the halls, the translucent panels provide a diffused, balanced and fabulous light. This type of light has a more special effect on the space than can be achieved with transparent surfaces or compared to how it is perceived outside. On the other hand, the south façade of the new building will be made of a glass curtain wall with fixed shading blinds, designed to create a playful game of light and shade in the interior. In wintertime, the grand glass surface on the south will have a role in saving heating costs. And in summer, when the sun`s location is higher, the shading blind will protect from overheating.
We emphasized on creating an interior space with fluid circulation. We avoided dead-end aisles because they attract fewer buyers and sellers can end up disadvantaged, which can have an overall negative impact on the market’s performance.
Regarding the way the sale spots are arranged, it is obvious that the upper floor can be more difficult to access than the ground floor. We assumed that anyone who comes to the market hall will most likely go upstairs to buy everything they need as well. On this account, the two floors are divided into shopping sectors: on the ground floor we proposed stalls for vegetables, fruits, and flowers; on the second floor there will be shops with refrigerators, various commercial spaces, and a food court. A completely mixed setting could have given the shops from the ground floor a bigger advantage, while the other floor might not have had enough customers for the merchants to be able to make a profit.
The multilevel circulation of the market hall is not about constraining users. They will be inclined to use the upper level because of the bigger available shop, the food court, and to enjoy the spectacular view. Adding to this, the visible, uniform distribution of the escalator, elevator, and stairs helps with mobility.
The new market hall will ensure a great experience for customers, all that is left for them is to prepare that delicious and nutritious meal at home!
