HS2 has celebrated working with local artists with a lunch at its Old Oak Common superhub station site. The lunch was served on a dinner service of 100 plates and 100 bowls which were made using London Clay that was excavated to create the giant underground station box.
HS2 collaborated with Absolute Beginners, an arts organisation led by artist Tom James, and local young people who have been learning to use the clay to make objects.
The group of 17-21 year olds began using the clay to make a simple plate in 2023, learning how to process, manipulate and fire the clay. The group has now made a dinner service of 100 plates and 100 bowls from some of the excavated materials – affectionately given the name ‘low speed plates’.
Made in the unique Absolute Beginners way, using off-grid power, local materials and simple tools, the ceramics are a reminder of the foundations of the station under our feet, London clay.
The new dinner service will be used by the HS2 station team to celebrate construction milestones through annual meals with local communities and stakeholders - all served and eaten from the service.
The first celebratory meal took place at the Old Oak Common station site on Saturday 21 September, with 80 people attending including the young people who made the sustainable dinner service, guests from the local community, as well as HS2’s supply chain at HS2 Ltd.
Peter Gow, Project Client for Old Oak Common Station at HS2 Ltd, said:
“It is fantastic to be working with the local creative community around the Old Oak Common station site to support these fantastic projects. We’re committed to building a sustainable station, for Britian’s new zero carbon railway, and this includes finding sustainable ways for waste materials to be used. It’s a pleasure to celebrate the Absolute Beginners project with the local community, using our new dinner service.”
Tom James, Director, Absolute Beginners, said:
‘We’ve spent the last two years learning to work with the clay that’s being extracted from Old Oak Common - and turning it into 100 plates and bowls. We’re calling them Low Speed Plates, because they are. Led by artist Phil Root, our young people have learnt every step of the process: from breaking down the raw material, to learning how to make these plates by hand, to developing prototypes and going into production. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re thrilled with the results.’
Mariam, who participated and made the dinner set said:
“Absolute Beginners is not just a business or project, it’s the principle and knowledge we convey to the world.”
HS2 has been working with its construction partner at Old Oak Common, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYTSRA joint venture (BBVS) to pilot other creative projects working with waste from the construction process.
Following-on from the use of the excavated London clay, research is now underway with local organisations Park Royal Open Workshop and Re-Made, who are looking into the re-use of materials in the concrete casting process – an activity that will happen for much of the station build.
Earlier in September HS2 excavated clay also featured in a showcase at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, organised with the Park Royal Design District. The exhibition featured artworks that supports the local creative circular economy and included pieces by local artists, including painted clay works and 3D-printed furniture, each telling a unique story of innovation and environmental stewardship in the heart of London
