(cue drum roll)
Of course, it could only be County Hall in Maidstone! On a practical level, you could say it is the geographical centre of Kent (and it is easy to get to because Maidstone East train station is just over the road). More importantly thou, on a conceptual level, is is also the political centre of Kent - the main base for Kent County Council. Since they are funding this next versoon of the project, it makes sense to choose this as a venue for a number of reasons.
The building is quite impressive from the outside. Solid. Stable. Gray. Though the entrance now used is on the side, we prefer this main/majestic archway. There is definitely a sense of 'drama' as you walk into the courtyard. So, the fact that i am small THE WORLD IS BIG will take over this building, and offer people a peek into it, will hopefulyl spark a number of very interesting/relevant associations.
Essentially, i am small THE WORLD IS BIG will occupy and animate four distinc areas/environments. There is obviously the courtyard. Hopefully we will be able to secure full access to it, and ensure that there are no cars parked there...
As you face the building, on the right hand side, is a glass entrance to the main reception area. Aesthetically speaking, we have begun to move away from the corportate feel we used in the previous version of the project, and towards a more homely/makeshift/personable feel. It will be interesting to see how we can, temporarily, transform this reception area and reimagine its use.
Past the reception desk, up a few steps, is the entrance to the next area/environment: the gallery. This is a long, though relatively wide space, which is sometimes used for exhibitions. It is likely that the 'satellite' activities will be located here, because it is a space to prime/prepare the audience for the main action: the bringing together of various re-stitched map fragments created by the communities. What excites us is that, unlike in other historic/official building we have worked in before, this space has panelling all around it (yay, no more agonising as to whether we can use pins or blue tack).
From the gallery you enter the main hall. This is actually only used as a transitionary space and KCC staff just walk through it as they go about their business. However, it is where we will place the heart of the project: the map-making. It has a lovely stone floor, and plenty of pannelling along the walls. For better or worse the large doors that lead back onto the courtyard cannot be open. This inevitably means that the audience will go on a linear journey, and then go back on themselves to exit. We just have to work with what we got. What interesting and potentially very useful, is that the hall has essentially two levels. The main space is the 'ground floor', but then there are some steps onto another level, which is conveniently framed by something resembling a proscenium arch! From there, a grand staircase leads to the first floor. What's great about this is that, even though we cannot use the first floor, we will hopefully be able to use the staircase... It would be idea for any 'grand' entrances (not that we have one at the moment).
More to follow soon.... If you want to find out how we will occupy/transform County Hall, watch this space...
Pablo
PS: I am pretty sure I have already introduced her, but just in case I forgot... We are working with a scenographer! Fiona Watt. Her background is in stage work, but she has increasingly been drawn to site-specific or non-text-based work. Check out her website: http://www.fionawatt.com/ We have already begun to have some very interesting conversations, and when she came to see County Hall with us she was as enthused as we were. I think I will leave all of that for another time thou...
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