For most of 2015, I was working on my latest public art commission for Groundwork North East. Groundwork were employed to design the landscaping for a landmark housing estate redevelopment, Tilery Housing Estate in Stockton-on-Tees in one of the most deprived parts of the UK. The overall £5m project included an entire revamp to the housing as well as the courtyards. It was officially opened in January to much acclaim. The project took one year to complete.
The commission encompassed two separate pieces: a series of large-scale ceramic relief panels for new gateways leading into the five courtyards and a series of 21 sculptures in the form of toadstools within the courtyards.
Teesside’s heritage is rich in many industries. Today, it is one of the most densely industrialised parts of the UK. One industry that used to flourish there and has long since disappeared is a tradition of potteries dating back to the 18th Century.
The designs of the panels are based on 18th Century maps depicting where the potteries used to be. The five panels show recognisable locations in Stockton and Middlesbrough with existing streets named. A series of symbols reference the industries that form such an important part of Teesside’s history: ironworks, represented by Big Ben that was cast there, bridge-building (famous bridges such as the Middlesbrough Transporter and Sydney Harbour Bridge were built there), the first ever railway (the Stockton and Darlington railway), ship-building, and the importance of the River Tees that was the reason for the evolution of so much industry. All of these are depicted within the clay relief in the locations where they existed at the time of the maps being drawn.
Inside the courtyards, the sculptural seating has been installed in clusters, providing seating as well as for children to play on, injecting a splash of colour into the landscaping. They are constructed of reinforced concrete clad with mosaic and ceramic. The bases of the toadstools are clad with bespoke hand-made ceramic tiles.
The designs of the mosaic tops are based on tiles produced by the Teesside potteries, most of which are on display in the Dorman Museum, which has an excellent collection of work particularly from the Linthorpe Pottery. Therefore the sculptures complement the ceramic panels on the new gateways into each of the courtyards.
Inside the courtyards, the sculptural seating has been installed in clusters, providing seating as well as for children to play on, injecting a splash of colour into the landscaping. They are constructed of reinforced concrete clad with mosaic and ceramic. The bases of the toadstools are clad with bespoke hand-made ceramic tiles.
The designs of the mosaic tops are based on tiles produced by the Teesside potteries, most of which are on display in the Dorman Museum, which has an excellent collection of work particularly from the Linthorpe Pottery. Therefore the sculptures complement the ceramic panels on the new gateways into each of the courtyards.
