LSA 601 | SALT CITY HARVEST FARM | Kirkville, NY
This project presented an agri-food system design for the community of Salt City Harvest Farm in Kirkville, NY.
Salt City Harvest Farm’s mission is to serve the New American population in the Syracuse, NY area as they adjust to their new surroundings, language, and culture. Our designs presented opportunities to enhance their community programming, community gathering spaces, as well as considering the specific needs of their Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Existing Site Conditions
Proposed Site Plan
The proposed design allows Salt City Harvest Farm to maximize this limited space for family and community gathering. Planting beds on the western part of the site allow the farm to host farm camps for the children in the community. The play space adjacent to the farm camp plots provides a less structured natural experience for the children. Then flowing through a grove of mature trees, the layout is designed to let users of all ages feel relaxed and comfortable as it overlaps with the gathering space. The gathering and learning space overlap to foster the organization’s mission to bring people together through farming, food, and community.
DESIGN GOALS:
-provide space for community gathering
-provide space for cultural education for children
-incorporate infrastructure important to their culture:
-Chulo (Nepalese stove)
-thatched roof
A rendering demonstrates the outdoor kitchen/learning space where the New American community could share recipes with their children and the local community.
DEAF SPACES
At Salt City Harvest Farm there is a large population of Deaf or Hard of Hearing (HoH) individuals and it was a priority to ensure that our designs be inclusive to these members. Research on best practices for inclusivity of Deaf and HoH individuals lead us to DeafSpace. The DeafSpace Design Guidelines originated from Gallaudet University and this project applied these concepts to the outdoor landscape.
Sensory Reach
Facilitating spatial awareness “in 360 degrees” aides in orientation and wayfinding.
diffused soft light
Acoustics
Reverberation caused by sound waves reflected by hard surfaces can be distracting or even painful.
designs can incorporate materials that absorb sound and distribute vibrations to alter others of someone’s presence
Light and Color
Color can be used to contrast skin tone to highlight sign language and facilitate visual wayfinding.
Mobility and Proximity
Designing spaces that facilitate ease of mobility and proximity allow for quick adjustments without interruption to conversation.
wide walkways and clear sight lines
adequate signing space and flexible seating
Space and Proximity
Clear visual communication requires proper “signing space” for conversation.
