Mattapan Mobile
Farm Stand

Mattapan, Boston, MA

Public Art Installation
Completion: 2012

Project Overview

Designed to confront and respond to the issue of food insecurity, the Mattapan Mobile Farm Stand was a multi-faced wheeled structure developed for transporting and selling fresh produce in one of Boston’s food deserts.

Project Team

Hansy Better Barraza
Anthony J. Piermarini
Chris Bull
Mykel Terada
John DiSalvo
Kristen Zeiber
Nick Polansky
Eugenia Yu
Loren Howard

Bike Consultant

Arc-En-Ciel Studio
Metro Pedal Power

Structural Engineer

Structures Workshop

Steel Fabricator

Trimount Ironworks

Photography

John Horner

Advocacy Via Design

Access & Mobility

                    The mobile installation ensured that fresh produce could be transported securely and displayed invitingly. The design also accounted for a variety of factors such as proper shade for the fresh produce, weight distribution, and environmental durability.
                

Creative Problem Solving

Meet People Where They Are

                    The idea driving the installation that became the Mattapan Mobile Farm Stand was simple: if people cannot get to fresh food, fresh food should be brought to them. Accordingly, the mobile stand brought food to spaces such as a local train station, a senior housing development, and a basketball court.
                

Partnerships at Work

BR+A+CE, MFFC, and The Vigorous Youth

                    BR+A+CE collaborated with local health advocacy group Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition (MFFC) and Brookwood Community Farm to design the pedal-powered mobile farm stand for the neighborhood of Mattapan.
                

About the Mobile Farm Stand

Addressing Food Insecurity

The correlation between high rates of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes within neighborhoods

experiencing inadequate access to sources of fresh food is well documented. The Mattapan Mobile Farm Stand confronted this problem with an innovative and creative solution: if people cannot get to fresh food, fresh food should be brought to them. BR+A+CE collaborated with local health advocacy group Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition (MFFC) and Brookwood Community Farm to design a pedal-powered mobile farm stand for one of Boston’s most diverse neighborhoods. The stand brought food to central gathering places such as the local public transit hub, a senior residence, and the basketball court. This strategy simultaneously increased the accessibility of fresh produce while also elevating the issue of food insecurity for the city of Boston. BR+A+CE supplied technical and design expertise, organized the fundraising effort, and constructed the human-powered mobile installation. The MFFC and its youth arm, the Vigorous Youth, operated the mobile farm stand.

BR+A+CE: Building Research + Architecture + Community Exchange is a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization co-founded by the Principals of Studio Luz Architects.

Mattapan MobileFarm Stand