Harlan Crossroads

Soup Kitchen

Second Year-Spring 2022

Individual-8 week project

Sketchup, Photoshop

513 River Street, Harlan, Kentucky

The city of Harlan, Kentucky, is located in the Cumberland Valley area making it one of the most rugged mountain territories. Due to the surrounding landscape, Harlan has long ties to coal mining and the railway system. Food insecurity amoung the population has been a rising concern with 26.6% of the population considered food insecure.

Design Concept

Harlan Crossroads is divided into two main zones, an intimate dining area along with a community dining area. The community dining area is centered in the middle of the structure to emphasise the importance of community growth and engagement. The intimate dining portion of this restaturant is seen through the utilization of a lowered ceiling plane, along with the use of partitions to provide privacy. A central axis is shown as the main path of circulation. The use of intersecting lines emphasise the cultural ties Harlan has to the railway and the coal mining industry. Repetitive textures, lighting and materials aim to create an industrial atmosphere that mimic the surrounding landscape.

Spatial Diagrams

Utilizing purple and green as the main colors in this design was inspired by a mural completed by Lacey Hale. Hale used vibrant greens and purples to celebrate the local pokeweed plant used in many traditional dishes.