THE BENCHES: A Community Farm Project
THE BENCHES: A Community Farm Project from Kristin Hawk
THE BENCHES: A Community Farm Project

PROGRAM:
A community farm for Historic Hillsborough, NC sits on 2 acres of land abutting the river, a residential neighborhood and a commercial edge. Plot rentals and amenities are needed for the community.
CONCEPT:
Inspiration for the design came from the informal seating found nearby & the perceived value residents place on the opportunities to interact with each other.
The design bookends the site with the programmatic areas, capturing the garden plots between & creating gathering spaces to meet and observe garden activity. The main circulation path becomes an extension of Old Cedar Lane, reconnecting the community with the river. At the end of the boardwalk is an outdoor classroom space.
The outdoor classroom is situated among the treetops near the river. There is an overflow collection just below, for when the cisterns cannot hold any more water, which allows the rainwater to be gently returned to the ground.

The design bookends the site with the programmatic areas, capturing the garden plots between, creating gathering spaces to meet and observe garden activity. The main circulation path becomes an extension of Old Cedar Lane, reconnecting the community with the river. At the end of the boardwalk is an outdoor classroom space. 1/16" Model
One of the "benches": The program near the river greets the pedestrian traffic generated on N and K Street next to the Weaver Street Market. It contains the classroom, gallery space and farmers' market. The circulation from the residential street, passing first by the office at the road, reaches this building on the second level and has a stair to connect to the program areas. The roofs are sized to collect enough rainwater for the cisterns. Garden storage is located at each change in grade.
This building houses the office functions of the farm and faces a residential street. The main circulation comes through the center of the building and down through the center of the individual plots. Observers or those heading to the classroom or farmers market take the pedestrian bridge on the far side.
Longitudinal section: The section shows the change in grade from the residential street to the river. The entry to the farm (left) is lined with River Birch, a tree native to the area, and which creates a buffer to the house next door. The top section enlarges the area where the boardwalk meets the second building (near the river), as well as how the water collection is integrated with the building itself.
Section_Outdoor Classroom: The outdoor classroom is situated among the treetops near the river. There is a rainwater overflow collection just below, for when the cisterns cannot hold any more water, which allows the rainwater to be gently returned to the ground.
Site context and diagrams - (left to right:) 1. Plan of community farm, adjacent commercial & residential buildings, river and main road into town. 2. Points and Planes diagram of site. 3. Diagram of indoor (dark blue) vs. covered open-air (light blue) spaces. White represents uncovered outdoor spaces.
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THE BENCHES: A Community Farm Project

PROGRAM:
A community farm for Historic Hillsborough, NC sits on 2 acres of land abutting the river, a residential neighborhood and a commercial edge. Plot rentals and amenities are needed for the community.
CONCEPT:
Inspiration for the design came from the informal seating found nearby & the perceived value residents place on the opportunities to interact with each other.
The design bookends the site with the programmatic areas, capturing the garden plots between & creating gathering spaces to meet and observe garden activity. The main circulation path becomes an extension of Old Cedar Lane, reconnecting the community with the river. At the end of the boardwalk is an outdoor classroom space.
The outdoor classroom is situated among the treetops near the river. There is an overflow collection just below, for when the cisterns cannot hold any more water, which allows the rainwater to be gently returned to the ground.

Kristin Hawk
Architectural Designer Wilmington, NC