13 October 2011

County Hall is developing its ambition to offer a multitude of activities to encourage the idea of "East meets West".

County Hall has formed a close relationship with one of Japan's celebrated master potters, Koutouge san, who creates beautiful oriental china and porcelain pieces, some of which are on display in the atrium at County Hall.

Their idea is to create a school of pottery where Koutouge san will teach people of all ages his wonderful art.

The location will be in the as yet unused grand lightwell in which stands the white chimney, originally the main exhaust for the GLC's vast heating system but standing idle for 25 years.

The design, created by County Hall's own Zen Design Studio, brings the chimney back to life by surrounding it with one gas fired and two electric kilns mounted on a raised oval platform. The platform is reached by a beautiful timber causeway elevated to the level of the Belvedere Road entrance.

Off the causeway are circular work areas where students will mould and glaze their clay before placing it in one of the kilns, under the watchful eye of the Master Potter and his team.

Lambeth have recently granted planning permission and work is underway to complete the school before the end of November.

The photographs show the assembling of the various supports and bases for the kiln area and causeway.

Please keep visiting our website to keep track of our progress in completing this latest exciting development at County Hall.