Zoe Gavil
Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design
Graduating with High Honors
Midtown Alley Sustainable Food Hall is a proposed project to create a holistic and welcoming space focused on the celebration of the full life cycle of the food we consume. The space will foster community engagement with sustainable food practices, as well as offer a space for visitors, both locals and tourists, to come together over a common passion and enjoyment of both casual and fine dining.
~30,000 Sq Ft both indoor and outdoor will house vendor stalls, a bar area, an in-house restaurant, an outdoor plaza with entertainment space, a rooftop farm, biophilic elements throughout, and a functional greenhouse. Housed in a former automobile warehouse, sustainable architectural principles will be utilized to honor the industrial roots of the space, while catering to Midwestern family-friendly sentiments through cheerful, vibrant, warm, and inviting finishes throughout.
St. Louis, Missouri is a city with many of its own food traditions and staples as well as close proximity to agricultural environments outside of the city borders. This food hall will highlight St. Louis food staples such as BBQ, toasted ravioli, and lemon bars, as well as locally and on-site sourced produce, herbs, and vegetables. The space offers an opportunity for community members to volunteer in the greenhouse or on the rooftop, bring their own compost to dispose of onsite, or participate in after school/work programming. The vendor stalls and farmers market also offer discounted pricing to locals seeking fresh and healthy ingredients and meals to remain fully inclusive and engaged with all socioeconomic demographics within the city and surrounding areas.