GORDON CLARKE ARCHITECTS LTD
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Arts and Crafts

Taking time out to play with materials and ideas is an important way of letting our creativity explore the boundless. Our active work with the crafts, and our work in education expands our practice from that of pure architecture into environmental creation
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1. Ten years ago we were asked to develop a design for a ceramic kiln which would reach a temperature of 1100 deg.C to be made entirely from natural materials." Several designs evolved. The most successful is built from clay, straw and hazel sticks. After firing it crumbles to a powder, leaving nothing behind." This has now evolved to a range of hands-on workshops on natural firing and glazing techniques." Light deeply affects the human soul. GC developed this design to light a historic arts and crafts church by William Letharby (whilst in employment with Hook Mason)" Working purely with sculptural forms helps to develop a sensitivity to the relationships between form and movement. This has been invaluable in developing our ideas on responsive and organic buildings." The gentle rhythmic form of the last piece here becomes stronger and more forceful. Both energies are important in the language of space." The next two images show two separate schemes for Banbury Arts Centre. The bar was fitted out with bespoke furniture. Heavy iron and hardwood components worked with the rough qualities of the mill." The brief for the cafe furniture was 'Make it comfortable..but make it Arty'. So we did. Again, all the furniture was individually designed by us and made in our workshops." A summer residence at Hoathly Hill lead to the creation of a new playground, largely built by Swiss Steiner School pupils on an exchange." .