Three Rivers Market

Three Rivers Market, a cooperative market in North Knoxville, needed a larger space to accommodate its growing member base and carry out its mission “to benefit its members by creating and nourishing a healthier community, healthier people, and a healthier environment.” Originally operating out of a 2,500-square-foot home turned commercial space, the owners had a vision of a renovated space to help address the food desert condition in North Knoxville while maintaining many of the materials original to the site and complimentary to the buildings around it. After collaborating with the Studio Four Design team, the finished result incorporates a ribbon of glass that separates the building’s new walls from its floating roof, inviting the warmth of natural light inside. The exposed structure and materials that are typically seen as base are utilized and celebrated for their texture, resiliency, and economy. The new Three Rivers Market offers an expansive gathering area, affectionately known as “the lunchroom”, a welcoming “front porch” space and a side patio for outdoor dining, and up-cycled bike racks and a bike repair station. Even canine friends were considered with the design of the “barking lot” under the front canopy, where dogs can rest on pillows and hydrate while their owners shop.