The newest example of 21st century rural American architecture is The Covington Farmers Market, designed and built by design/buildLAB, a third year undergraduate program at VA Tech. The design/buildLAB was co-founded, and the project was led by Marie and Keith Zawistowski, professors of practice and partners of the firm OnSite, LLC, the designers of the Arritt Farmhouse. Plugged directly into the global trend of organic, local food, this project is on the cutting edge, despite its rural location.

The farmers market only sells food that comes from within a 100-mile radius, and the same strategy was adopted for its building materials. Most of the wood in the structure is recycled from old barns or locally grown trees. The folded roof shape was possible because of digitally fabricated trusses--a process which also minimizes construction waste--and it's beautiful enough to fit in perfectly with its small-town setting.

For bringing technology and the latest ideas in sustainability to a rural area, the Covington Farmers Market project is Character Approved.

[Image: © Jeff Goldberg/Esto]