Cane Hill, Arkansas is an unincorporated town with a population of 1,530. With agricultural roots in sorghum, apples, and cane, this site has served a significant role in the town's history. The mill as it stands today is just a foundation and the start of a wheel reconstruction. The challenge for this project was it create an educational plaza structure that would be habitable year-round.
General Timeline of the history of Cane Hill
Aerial view of existing site
Existing site
Existing site
Mill remains before historic wheel removal
Mill remains before historic wheel removal
To capture the mood of the site, I created a collage using photos taken on-site
In trying to achieve a plaza that would be habitable year-round, I created different levels of shade and openness. The side closest to the creek (left side) is almost completely open with a fully covered roof, ideal for summer. The side closest to the road (right side) is almost enclosed with walls but includes a perforated roof and partly open space, ideal for winter. In actual practice, this plaza would include interpretive signage about the mill and Cane Hill as a town.
