I chose to take a Topics course in my Fall 2008 semester which was a competition class for 6 teams from VCU and it also was a national competition. My team and I placed 2nd from VCU, and we were a finalist in the national IDEC competition. Our project goals were to create a business which would inhabit the Southside National Bank located in Saint Louis. The bank is currently undergoing historic renovations. The 14 floors above our given space is being converted into upscale apartments. The competition required us to create a business and a business plan for the first floor that would involve community activities. Then we were to create our own program based on the business we created. Our mission was to design a crafts market which houses a studio center and an affordable ice cream parlor. The market is part of a restoration project, from the Art Deco era, which will benefit the community by providing an economic outlet and learning center for people of all ages and diverse backgrounds.

1. South Saint Louis Building
St. Louis City, Missouri
Crafts Market and Ice Cream Parlor
Our mission was to design a crafts market which houses
a studio center and an affordable ice cream parlor. The
market is part of a restoration project, from the Art Deco
era, which will benefit the community by providing an
economic outlet and learning center for people of all
ages and diverse background.
In “Stewarding the Future”, David Lowen- categorization is correct, our idea for the space
thal writes that in order to maintain and pro- will allow the structure to overlap as a resto-
mote a consistent existence, one must start at ration as well. According to Bakerwell Com-
the very beginning of what makes life possible, mercial Realtors of South Saint Louis, MO, the
our environment (including both physical and building is conveniently located near three ma-
social aspects). Historic preservation aims to jor highways, is heavily trafficked by pedestri-
provide sustainability to protect the present and ans and vehicles, and has a “dense” day and
future environment with the stability and knowl- night population. The building is located on the
edge of what was accomplished in the past. corner of a major intersection; the commercial
There are four main treatments for this space should be attractive and sustainable.
protection: Preservation, Restoration, Reha- The interior space will be turned into a
bilitation, and Reconstruction. Preservation fo- crafts market. The design concept of the mar-
cuses on retaining the integrity and maintaining ket will reflect the historic architecture of the
historic characteristics unique to the existing Art Deco period exterior of the building; the
structure. Restoration deals with a property’s design of the modern crafts market will pro-
historic function at a specific period of time. The vide a place for locals to promote themselves
structure’s missing or damaged architectural economically while allowing for community in-
features are replaced with material that reflects teraction. As an attraction, an ice cream par-
and conserves that period. Rehabilitation re- lor (reflective of the Art Deco era) and a studio
tains the original historic character of a proper- (where the locals from the crafts market can
ty. Protection of the original use of the building is teach their trade) will be included in the design.
not a necessity in this case, but maintenance of The building itself was constructed in
the materials used and their original use is. Re- 1928, right before the Great Depression. Simi-
construction starts over again at the beginning; lar to that era, the social and economic future of
new construction re-establishes the remaining the country now seems to be unpredictable. It
historic features of the pre-existing structure. therefore is critical that the space be utilized as
Once the new structure replaces the old, it is a a place to sustain the individual as well as the
requirement that it be identified as a re-creation. group, beyond what can be predicted for the
As part of the redevelopment projects for future. Providing an inviting design as well as
South Saint Louis City, Missouri, the South Saint promoting neighborhood revitalization creates
Louis Building (once used as a bank) falls under a successful commercial space and main-
the category of a rehabilitation site. Although this tains sustainability and historic preservation.
Edward L. Bakewell, Inc. Realtors. www.bakewellinc.com
Lowenthal, David. “Stewarding the Future.” CRM Vol.2, No.2, Summer 2005
http://crmjournal.cr.nps.gov/02_viewpoint_sub.cfm?issue=Volume%20
2%20Number%202%20Summer%202005&page=1&seq=2
Weeks, Kay D. “Telling Historic Preservation Time: Using Illusion with Care to Reveall the Past.”
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/clocks/index.htm

2. Emerald City
Local craftsmen rent a unit for $50 a month. There are five
categories that crafts are placed under, and one of these is a
Seasonal section which changes four times during the course of
a year.
Expectable Crafts To Sell At Emerald City:
“Quadling Country” “Munchkin Land”
Items that are on sale during a Children’s handmade toys and crafts.
designated season. An example
would be Christmas ornaments, “Over the Rainbow”
wreaths, and other decorations.
Including paintings and sculptures.
“The Tin Man”
“Warp and Weave”
Miscellaneous Items and Special-
ized Crafts such as metals, jewelry, Quilting and knitting crafts.
lamps, wood crafts, and soaps.
Business Plan
Marvel’s Studio
Space reserved for the awarded artist of the month to teach a small
size class.
Lollipop Guild
Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor
The ice cream parlor is not your average place to get a sweet treat.
This part of Emerald City serves up affordable food and beverages to
visitors. It encompasses a lounge area for a relaxing retreat from the busy
craft market and uses the columns as alternate seating, along with available Floor Plan Key
wireless internet. The shop lures in customers on hot or cold days with 1. Entry
budget-friendly treats, who otherwise would not be interested in crafts. 2. Marvels Studio
Customers have to walk through the market space to get to the parlor. The 3. Munchkin Land
Lollipop Guild can be closed off when Emerald City is rented out for special 4. Tin Man
community events. 5. Over the Rainbow
6. Quading Country
The Lollipop Guild is also a part of Emerald City’s sustainable business 7. Bar Seating
8. Lollipop Guild
plan by using only local produce. All ice cream is to be made on site by its
9. Employee lounge and office
employees. 10. Warp and Weave
11. Register counter for market
Scale: not to scale
Group Goals
To follow all proper codes when designing.
To design a space that is part of a restoration project of a physically prominent structure
located at an important intersection.
To preserve and re-invent the Art Deco style of the 1920s and 1930s in a way that enhanc-
es the existing architecture.
To create a business philosophy and design that is sustainable, generates revenue, and
increases activity which will diminish safety and security concerns in this area.
To design an ice cream parlor and studio space that is unique, and as a result of its design,
will attract attention and activity to the area.

3. The shape of the display units
were inspired by the original vault
located in the uniquely design
lobby that served as a bank. These
flexible units may come to close up
much like the vault does, enabling a
more versatile display of the objects
as well as storing the unit itself.

4. Sustainability
The main choices of materials for this project are
sustainable, but consider the business itself as being
sustainable by providing an outlet for locals of all ages and
diverse backgrounds to come sell their crafts for extra money.
During this time of recession, this business is an opportunity
for economic advancement in Saint Louis. The flexible design
allows the space to be transformed into any function that
requires an open floor plan, simply by moving the display units
and closing in the ice cream parlor.