AA2DS4 // GOVERNOR HOUSE CERAMICS

The Reading Gas Company used to supply the town with gas up to the 1970s and with it two buildings became redundant. With a rich historical context including the Huntley and Palmer’s Biscuit Factory and bespoke gas bridge the buildings were to be converted into a new ceramics centre for the town. This would be a catalyst for change among Reading’s community aiming to reconnect them to the rich ceramic past the town has. Numerous brickworks, lime kilns and clay works litter the area surrounding the town. The buildings were converted into an exhibition, cafe, studio, education facility and artists residency. The intervention adopted an as found strategy working with the age, history and memory of the buildings.

The project was strongly influenced by the prescribed circulation route. With the visitor’s of the exhibition following a clear one way system that could also be changed and short cut if they desired. The aim was there was enough break spaces to avoid museum fatigue. This was partly inspired by Gordon Cullen’s serial vision and my own experience at galleries and exhibitions. The new additions to the building were made clearly legible by using characteristic Reading dark grey brick or locally sourced grey tiles both helping contextualise the project and better allowing people to appreciate the clay history the town has.

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