The Picuris Pueblo Farmers Market Pavilion is a 6,000-square-foot multi-purpose community space located at the western entrance of Picuris Pueblo. It’s envisioned as a permanent, year-round home for the Peñasco Farmers Market, a vibrant mercado that attracts over 300 visitors on a typical Saturday, providing significant economic benefits to local farmers, artisans, and businesses.
In collaboration with the Picuris Pueblo leadership and community members, our design team balanced local architectural traditions with a contemporary aesthetic. By exploring various farming and agricultural vernaculars, we created a design that emphasizes the simplicity and transparency of a large, open-air barn. This straightforward approach highlights the activity within the mercado and fosters a strong connection between the vendors, community, and surrounding landscape.
The Pavilion includes an inviting plaza and a covered, year-round market hall that provides a communal space for shopping, gatherings, and celebrations. We emphasized locally sourced timber and earth materials, which helped us achieve a design that is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. The structure features prefabricated wood trusses and a steel frame, illuminated at night by the warmth of the wood slat exterior.
Inside, the spacious market hall includes a demonstration kitchen, storage, and accessible restrooms. Future phases of the project will include an outdoor music amphitheater and a stage for summer concerts.
