From Grain Elevator to Creamery: Reconnecting to the Working Landscape in Silvana, Washington

Abstract

Our largely urban population is disconnected from rural agricultural landscapes, which distorts our perception of where our food comes from. This results in unhealthy eating habits, and leads to huge energy consumption in transporting food across the globe. By creating a place where connections can be made between the local farmland and the production of food, people can be encouraged to eat more healthily and buy locally. This thesis proposes the conversion of an obsolete grain elevator in the agricultural community of Silvana, Washington, into a small-scale artisan creamery. As the grain elevator is located directly in the working landscape where the cows are raised and the milk is produced, a strong connection between the food and its origin is established. The adaptive reuse strategy capitalizes on the varied structural systems and unique spaces within the grain building, creating a multi-sensory and interconnected experience as one moves through the building.