A regeneration of the high street

The Clay kiln markets is a design proposal responding to Chepstows existing issues regarding the regeneration of the highstreet. The clay kiln markets respond to the cultural, characteristic and heritage of Chepstows history with clay, kilns and pottery making. The Design proposal not only regenerates the forgotten craftwork of Chepstow but also introduces spaces for local businesses and local people to resurrect their craft businesses into the high street.

The existing issues of the highstreet ranging from the conservation building restrictions to lack of businesses funds will be regenerated in the Kiln market space to give the users the opportunity they have lost before in the past. The design proposal aims to bring back business, culture, heritage and history of Chepstow. By doing so, the final design proposal stands as a piece reminder of Chepstows character.

The form and structure purposely designed to mirror that of a kiln and it’s materiality consisting of a variety of sustainable clay bricks from lime sand bricks to earth bricks to soil bricks (manufactured locally in Chepstow). The clay markets not only stand to regenerate Chepstows highstreet and history, but the design itself is a statement to sustainable ways of building. The materiality used in the structure is consisted of different clay materials - linking to Chepstow’s heritage alongside the sustainable ways of building. throughout the design process, I explored the use of different textures and materials of clay, recreating different styles and using the material itself to create the markets form. The central space stands as a brick kiln centre - a place where users walk through to experience what it feels like to “be inside a kiln”. The interior of the central space has a brick instalment shaped to what I image what a brick kiln looks like. The whole form and structure is a statement to Chepstow’s kiln heritage and craftsmanship.