Grange Hall by the Sea
A Coastal Gathering Place  This project grew out of a close examination of the West Tisbury Grange Hall and Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society - two rural gathering centers that serve a wide range of community functions for the interior of Martha’s Vineyard. Both spaces are similar in size and structure, and both have traditionally been hubs for the island’s agricultural life. They now function as a generic space that can serve a wide variety of community gathering needs.

What might a grange hall by the sea look like? It might be open on all sides, to allow the breeze and winds to pass through, and maintain views out to the harbor and open waters beyond. The upper level might be a vast, open observation deck, from which to survey ferry traffic. What types of activities might be supported in these open spaces? A fleet of stored chairs and tables might be deployed for a wedding, a community meeting, a memorial service. A book club might meet in the rotunda on a warm night, a town dinner might become a major summer event.

This exploration imagines a version of the island where these gathering spaces might be established in a few diverse contexts - Grange Hall in the Woods, Grange Hall by the Marsh, Grange Hall in the Village, Grange Hall on the Green, Grange Hall by the Pier…
Type  Community Center
Date
Fall 2023
Location
Oak Bluffs, MA

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