PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Community Development International (CDI) hoped to develop several components of New Earth Farm’s 22-acre self-sustainable farm in the rural Pungo section of Virginia Beach. With ideas that began as crayon scribbles on paper, the first structure to be built was the Teaching Pavilion + Greenhouse, a structure to accommodate three primary functions: 1) a sheltered classroom with flexible space for easy reconfiguration, 2) a greenhouse for seed-starting, and 3) a storage shed for tools. Secondary functions include a portion of vegetated roof that is accessible and visible for teaching, a collection tank to capture rain from the roof, and an integrated pergola for vine plants. The owner uses the farm’s products at the small farm-to-table restaurant, Commune, also designed by WPA in the Vibe Arts District of the Virginia Beach. The formerly vacant space was reconceived as a lively venue using reclaimed materials and eclectic tables where diners enjoy the sustainable grown and locally sourced bounty of the region.
