Semi-Finalist - Blake Bural

Jury Comments

The jury appreciated the urban edge
The design includes restoration of the missing building fabric on a vacant site. Defining the site with functional buildings continues the urban enclosure on these downtown streets.
The open core of the site nicely accommodates multiple functions, parking and the market.
Incorporates conscious involvement of all the program elements of the market.
The opportunities for upper level dwelling reflect the goals for the downtown master plan.

A Board B Board

Board Text

Our primary intent is to create a two story mixed use pedestrian centered environment and an adaptable venue for the city of Walla Walla. This design draws from historic context by adopting materials, proportions and details from the existing surroundings.

A pocket park on Main Street frames a pedestrian corridor through the site. The existing market arcade will be transplanted to the northeast corner of the site to clearly mark the Rose Street entrance to this corridor. This corridor connects the site to the important Mill Creek development, while also acting as a traffic calming measure. This design incorporates an art and wine tourist information office on Main Street. Adjacent to this office is the informational way finding kiosk which marks the entrance to the pedestrian corridor. The kiosk is celebrated by the park which reaches deep into the site and implements a green roof as a sustainable element. The existing bandstand will be raised to this upper level park, and provides an elegant location for entertaining.

To create an adaptable venue, the 4th street and Rose Street façades will be comprised of twelve pivoting doors which provide both open and closed venue scenarios. The structure is similar to the existing arcade, and can be expanded through the parking stalls and across Fourth street by a temporary stanchion system.

Additionally, this design implements 96 sub-grade and 67 above grade parking spaces, a commercial kitchen, and addresses the transit area requirements by providing indoor/outdoor sheltered waiting areas adjacent to retail and food service opportunities.