Kingston Food Coop

As part of a Design Advocates Team, we were invited to submit a proposal for the Kingston Food Co-op. The project was to convert a former Honda dealership site into an equitable grocery store with additional public programs.

Our approach was to design this grocery co-op as a piece of equitable public infrastructure. We examined what opportunities were presented by the program- how can a grocery store kitchen, normally hidden in the back, become a space for hands-on food education? How can a planter garden become a play space for children?

We presented our proposal to the co-op in a way that demonstrates how Design Advocates intended to engage the community as a key part of the design process. This presentation was equally a proposal for our design ideas, as it was a prototype of our approach to ultra-inclusive community and co-design.