Knowledge Bank

Woven Roots, a holistic women’s wellness center, aims to empower, educate and nourish the women of Franklinton, Ohio. Once a place of craft and artistry, Franklinton is now undergoing significant gentrification, resulting in the underrepresentation of local residents in urban development efforts. Currently, 62.5% of households are single mother households, a majority of these rely on food assistance. Today, there are 15.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in Franklinton - almost triple the national average. This is a multipronged issue, but contributing factors include food insecurity in the area as well as the lack of access to quality prenatal care. Based on this data, Woven Roots is dedicated to serving women and their health needs in Franklinton. The space is conceived to increase access to education and equip women with the tools they need to sustain their own health, as well as the health of their future children. Redefining the traditional women’s healthcare experience, Woven Roots prioritizes the use of holistic methodologies. These include "food as medicine," biophilic elements, and other natural remedies that help unearth the root issue and in turn heal the mind, body and soul. Today, a stigma surrounds holistic methods of healthcare as being too expensive and unattainable for those of lesser means. To combat this, accessibility and approachability are at the forefront of the design, as to reach women of all socio-economic backgrounds. Employing local women to assist in the making of the natural products for distribution provides them with professional development opportunities, financial security, and hands-on education. On an emotional level, this project includes primary and secondary research on trauma-informed spaces, as to make every woman feel safe and secure. Woven Roots resides in the historical Engine House 10, an adaptive reuse building in Franklinton. Using the rich culture of this neighborhood as inspiration for design decision making, a sense of cultural identity is infused throughout the program. Creating this environment that respects, appreciates, and celebrates Franklinton's past takes a step towards rekindling a sense of community in its future.