Locally grown and organic food is becoming more and more popular in the Czech Republic. When we were asked to design a market stall for a new concept of Green Markets (zelenetrhy.cz), one of our first thoughts was the importance of enabling a personal interaction between the farmers and market visitors. From this, the farmer can relate to the visitors through their produce, and the relationships formed may contribute to the character of the market as a whole. Reconfiguration of the typical retailing method transforms the vendor — a person behind a counter — into a real assistant, an advisor who helps us to choose the best goods. This makes the business interaction into a more friendly exchange and due to this may even improve sales. A further requirement of the stall is a consideration of security, so it may be locked up while not in use and resistant to vandalism.The resulting concept, called “urban almara” (urban wardrobe), may be quickly and easily opened or closed at any time. When open, the farmer stands between a blackboard and shelves filled with their produce. The blackboard gives all vendors equal opportunity to describe, advertise and update availability of produce, as well as to personalize their stall with their handwriting. The design includes custom made boxes and a foldable table, which can be stored within the stall. The stalls come together at a Green Market location in different numbers and various configurations. Unlike a typical market, which is arranged in rows, stalls can be configured to create clusters with a hidden storage space in the middle.
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