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F. The Design of Market Buildings and Infrastructure
F. The Design of Market Buildings and Infrastructure
F. The Design of Market Buildings and Infrastructure
The overriding consideration in the design of most markets is that the most
cost-effective solution should be found However, there are a number of basic
design principles that will need to be considered when preparing proposals for
market infrastructure These factors include space standards, the choice of
materials and structures and the impact of the climate (rainfall, temperature'
wind) on design
The use of space in markets will vary substantially with the type of function it
contains The standards indicated in Chapter 3 (see Box 6) provide a basis for
estimating overall space needs However, at the detailed design stage it will be
necessary to develop more precise descriptions of the different sections of a
market, distinguishing between
There is generally a wide variety in the overall number of stalls, ranging from
relatively small suburban street markets with, say, 50 stalls to main urban
covered markets with, for example, over 2,000 stalls. A typical distribution of
stalls, based on observations in medium-sized covered markets in Bratislava
(Slovak Republic) and Kuwait, is shown in Table 5.1. In these cases some 60
to 80 per cent of the stalls are used for fruit and vegetable sales. In contrast,
the fruit and vegetable stalls in some urban markets may only represent a
small proportion (around 15 30 per cent) of the total number of stalls available.
Figure 41 illustrates how a wide range of functions are distributed within the
market area of a small rural town and the use of a simple standard fixed stall
unit which is appropriate for the sale of a variety of produce.
Type of retail activity Mestka Trznica, Bratislava: Shuwaikh retail market, Kuwait
No. of users % total No. of users % total
Fruit & Vegetables stalls 122 80 199 58
Produce promotion stalls 4 3 0 0
Textiles/clothing stalls 10 6 0 0
Flower stalls 16 11 0 0
Butchers' stalls 0 0 51 15
Fishmongers' stalls 0 0 94 27
Total stalls 152 100 344 100
Retail shops (groceries, etc. ) 55 66
However, even within one category of goods there may be a wide range of
needs in terms of size and amenity standard of sales space. At the simplest
level, some sellers may only be trading in a sack of fresh produce (say 25 to
50 kilograms) on any one day. In this case, renting open space on a daily
basis to erect a small uncovered trestle table would be the most appropriate
solution. Even seemingly quite busy lock-up stalls in covered markets, with an
overall stall area of 4 to 12 square metres, are only likely to be selling 100 to
300 kilograms of fruits and vegetables daily. There will also be a need for
large stalls in markets, but this is usually very limited (e.g. a specialised trader
in grains or dry foods requiring additional space for storage) and can normally
be accommodated by designing the stalls in a modular fashion so that a
number of stalls can be combined to form a larger unit.
BOX 9
Procedure for determining detailed space requirements in open and
covered markets
1. Estimate the total number of sales spaces required based on the projected
turnover of the market and the likely range of turnovers (e.g. small, medium or
large) and the different uses (i.e. fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry,
grains, dairy products, clothing, household goods, etc.)
2. Decide, for each different type of user, on the distribution between open
and covered spaces based on an assumed (for new markets) or observed (for
existing markets ) pattern of use (e.g. 90 per cent open spaces in a weekly
rural market, 100 per cent under cover in a central urban market, etc.)
3. Allocate the stalls within the market remembering that stall sizes should be
kept as small as possible to minimize rents (normally 2 x 2 metres to 3 x 4
metres, with sales space or table taking up 30-50 per cent of the area)
4. Allocate the circulation space (aisle widths should be in the range of 3.5 to
6 metres and wide enough for ease of pedestrian circulation and so that small
delivery trolleys or vehicles can enter the market)
5. Check that there is a maximum length of 12 metres between cross aisles
6. Total the sales and circulation space and check whether it broadly
corresponds to the overall area projected for the market (see Chapter 3)
7. Adjust the total requirements to take account of existing facilities
8. Phase the development to take account of immediate urgent requirements
and long-term needs
9. Discuss the proposals with traders (if applicable) to ensure their
acceptability
Even with rural markets it is necessary to determine the number of sellers who
will be provided facilities under cover and those who will prefer to sell in the
open air or provide their own facility. Figure 42 illustrates a simple village
market' located on a sloping site in which the majority of the permanent
traders are accommodated in open sheds and a small section of the market is
reserved for casual traders
FIGURE 42 Design for a small rural village market on a sloping site, with
covered stalls and room for casual traders against outside walls
Influence of climate
In areas with extreme climatic conditions, such as cold weather, high rainfall
and intense sunshine, there are distinct advantages, for both sellers and
customers, in constructing enclosed market buildings. Traditionally, such
structures are very characteristic of France, Britain and Spain. As was
discussed in Chapter 2, many markets were built in the 19th century, but
some date back to Mediaeval times. In the 20th century, this building form has
been extensively adopted in South-East Asia. For convenience of market
operations, single-storey market structures are preferable, but where markets
are located in high density urban areas the building may need to be two to
three stories high.
In arid climates, and to some extent the tropics, it may be appropriate to use
internal open courtyards within market buildings. This provides a way of
improving comfort conditions by allowing cross-ventilation. If the courtyard is
too enclosed there is probability of it being "dead" and this can be avoided by
opening it up to the activities of the building. The spaces can be used as
sitting areas, overspill selling spaces or the courtyard can form part of the
entry to the building. Many traditional Arab suqs use this type of plan very
effectively.
For most small-scale rural markets and for urban street and open markets,
where the space is also used for different purposes at other times (e.g. as a
car park), it is usual for traders to operate using small-scale individual
structures. These are normally left up to the individual stallholder to provide.
They often take the form of umbrellas' barrows with integral roofs or a simple
demountable structure, with a canvas awning or plastic-sheeted roof spanning
between a timber, bamboo or steel framework. In these cases, the market
stalls are not subject to any design control by the market authority and are the
property of the individual stallholders. Alternatively, the market authority might
provide standard prefabricated stalls on an individual or group basis, the rent
charged for them reflecting the hire of the stall as well as the space. Typical
examples of such "temporary" or mobile structures, appropriate for urban and
rural street markets. are illustrated in Chanter 6.
Fixed stall designs for rural markets can either be accommodated in single-
sided buildings ranged along the external wall of a market or in double-sided
blocks. With the latter, access can either be from the perimeter or stalls can
be approached from a central buyers' walk through the centre of the building.
This is particularly important when protection from weather conditions is a
major consideration. Figure 43 shows some typical arrangements for rural
market buildings.
Facilities provided for street markets and public squares may adopt a wide
range of solutions, One extreme, illustrated in Figure 47, is the provision of
facilities for hawkers alongside an existing arcaded roadway. In this case, the
raised selling slabs provided for the hawkers are also used as sleeping
platforms at night.
A common way that street markets develop is in the gradual roofing over of
open spaces. In Italy, for example, this often takes the form of inserting
covered market buildings into existing squares or wide streets, as illustrated in
Figure 48. A variant on this, common in Britain, has been the roofing-over of
streets or open spaces with glazed panels, to form an arcade at the rear of
existing shops.
Although mobile stalls are common, these may not be affordable. An
alternative is to construct simple fixed roofs over individual stalls or, more
economically, over the stalls of two to four vendors, (see Figures 49 and 50).
By this means, a traditional street market or market square, as it becomes
more intensively used, can evolve into a permanent market facility. Figure 51
illustrates how the provision of new covered stalls, combined with a
pedestrianisation and landscaping programme, is able to create a completely
new urban environment. In colder climates or where the products being sold
are of high value (e.g. flowers) a common method of providing stalls is by
using individually operated and fully enclosed lock-up kiosks, which can be
either of permanent construction or demountable.
Within the building the width of aisles should be in the range of 3.5 to 6
metres. The minimum width is based on allowing a group of three people
walking together to pass one person standing by a stall, or for two people
walking to pass two other people. The 6 metre width of aisle would allow for
seating and other uses and is ideal for the main thoroughfare of the market. A
conventional arrangement of covered markets (tending to reflect what often
also occurs in open street markets) is to have two or three aisles, i.e. with one
or two double-sided sets of stalls down the middle of the building and single-
sided stalls looking into the market on the perimeter.
The basic module from which the design of any market is based is the
individual market stall. Figure 55 shows typical fixed stalls for a covered
market, the difference in design in the illustration reflecting the slightly
different needs for the sale of fruit as opposed to vegetables. The sale of
flowers would need a different arrangement, requiring fully tiered shelving and
probably omitting the sales counter, whilst for grains and spices space would
be needed for the stacking of sacks at the rear of the stall and for the display
of samples of the product in trays at the front of the stall.
Dimensions for a simplified multi-use stall design are also shown in Figure 83
in Chapter 6. This design, particularly appropriate for simple meat and fish
stalls, is based on the trader standing behind the stall to serve customers,
requiring a clear space behind of around 2 metres for standing and the
stacking of boxes. For fruit and vegetable sales it is equally common for the
stallholder to stand in front of the stall, in which case, the stall could be flat
and the depth may be made deeper (say 1.2 to 1.5 metres) to accommodate a
stacked display. Another variant in stall design is for the trader to sit on the
stall, in which case the stall would be set at a height of around 450 to 600 mm.
above the floor level. The overall dimension of the stall would need to be
based on the reach of the trader and a width of 1.8 metres and depth of 1.2
metres are the optimum dimensions. It is essential to consult with the traders
on the suitability of the stalls and their dimensions before finalizing the design.
Different stall designs will be required to reflect the different goods being sold
- although these variations can be provided within a standard enclosure.
Figure 56 illustrates a market where a wide variety of different needs has
been accommodated within a small covered market inserted between existing
buildings. The stalls around the perimeter of the market are often the most
popular with sellers and sometimes are of a different design, e.g lock-up
shops.
Most retail markets are likely to include a mixture of sales functions. However,
although in covered markets a wide variety of stalls can be accommodated it
is also important than the stalls selling similar products are grouped together.
This is partly for the convenience of the customers, particularly so prices can
easily be compared, but there are other reasons,. One is the need for the
sanitary segregation of fresh produce stalls from meat, fish and poultry stalls,
particularly so that the area for the latter can be easily cleaned and the
disposal of waste controlled.
Another is the requirement for physical segregation of fruit stalls from flower
stalls so that the natural ethylene gas produced by the fruits does not damage
the flowers.
Although fresh fruits and vegetables may make up the majority of the food-
related stalls, facilities for butchers and fishmongers are also likely to be
important. Rarely is a separate building provided and such uses are normally
integrated with the main market facilities. However, there can be advantages
to providing a separate building so that hygiene standards and cleaning
routines can vary from that prevailing in other parts of a market. Figure 57
illustrates a small retail fish market in Algeria, with its own cool stores, where
sales are made from a single long counter rather than individual stalls. Where
fish are sold live, communal or individual tanks may need to be provided,
requiring a nearby water supply and provision for draining down the tanks
Larger traders in meat or fish are likely to require separate premises and
Figure 58 shows a section through a fishmonger's stall in a covered market,
illustrating the importance of ventilation and of facilities for effectively washing
down the stall area. It is equally important from a health point of view that
facilities for butchers and fishmongers are concentrated in one location in a
market (ideally away from the movement of animals and vehicles). Figures 59
and 6() show a modular design for small butchers' shops, which could either
be integrated into the main market building or provided as stand-alone
facilities. Note the provision of fly-proof meat safes and hanging rails for meat.
The latter is also illustrated in Figure 61, which shows part of a covered
market under a single hangar roof - with separate sections for butchers, meat
slaughter, fish sales, fish gutting and fruit/vegetable sales.
Poultry and egg marketing
Poultry sections of markets, including areas for the sale of chickens, ducks
and geese, have their own unique design requirements. The main distinction
will be whether the poultry is sold live or already slaughtered. In the latter
case, the sales facility will not be visibly much different from that used for
fresh meat or fish, except that using hanging rails for display of the dressed
birds will be preferred. For live birds, which have the distinct advantage over
pre-killed birds in that they do not have to be disposed of by the end of the
working day, there are two basic modes of sale. Firstly, the poultry can be
bought live (i.e. for slaughter at home) or it can be slaughtered and plucked
(de-feathered) in the market on demand, in which case special slaughter
facilities will need to provided, This usually requires a shackle for hanging the
birds and hot water for scalding carcasses. In Muslim societies a slaughter
slab oriented to Mecca will be needed.
In simple rural markets the display of live poultry may be in an open enclosure
or by using the baskets in which the birds were transported to market. With
urban markets, where space is at a premium, a bank of stacked display cages
is normally used, usually three cages high (typically cages are around 0.7 to
0.8 metres high). The wooden-framed, wire-netted crates used for transport
from the farm can be utilized for this purpose. In facility design it is important
not to over-provide for poultry display, otherwise large sections of a market
becomes a storage area for live birds. The potential impact of a developing
battery chicken industry and frozen poultry meat sales through supermarkets
should also be taken into account. This may limit the long-term need for
extensive provision of facilities in markets.
Eggs are sold by grade, typically in baskets, cartons or trays. The eggs are
often displayed as samples on a table or bench. As eggs are highly perishable
it is essential that the sales area in a market is located in the coolest place,
with adequate shade and cross-ventilation.
Storage
A. insect trap
B. ventilation extract
C. display lighting, mounted sufficiently high to avoid produce damage
D. price board and promotion material
E. cutting table, possibly behind wall separating preparation and sales areas
F. storage bins
G. drainage outlet in floor
H. weighing scales over display area