Cities are often remembered by their trademark known buildings, prominent industries, historic events, famous residents and other such notable features that stand out in our memory of the world’s most celebrated cities.

Similarly, Fresno and the Central Valley are known for their most outstanding features; they are famous for the fertile landmass whose products constitute 8% of the agricultural production of the United States. Having this in mind, we set the role and the importance of agriculture in the history of Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley as the starting point of our project.
The parallel structures spanning the whole project refer to agricultural patterns such as those created by tractor trails, patterns of the natural vineyards, and those generated by shoveling and harvesting.

Two cubic structures represent the people of San Joaquin Valley. The cubes are designed to express the relationship of the people of the Valley (both indigenous and immigrant population) with agriculture. The position of the cubic structures in relation to the parallel ones indicates the significance of agriculture to the development and flourishing of the population. The direction of the parallel structures refers to the geographical direction from which the population (attracted by agricultural potentials of the region) poured into the Central Valley.

At the same time, the solidity of the cubic structures beneath the parallel beams that traverse their shoulders, reflects the way in which the diverse ethnic groups of the central valley have maintained their integrity, customs, culture throughout the process of becoming integral parts of the larger community.
In other words, the position of the cubes symbolizes the strength of the authentic people of the Central Valley who preserve their integrity while being shaped and influenced by the rich land and agriculture.

This is the message the museum conveys to its audience: “I am alive, I stand in good relations to the past and all that is beautiful, and I reflect your dignity and perseverance.”