lay out is a consultation and research project designed to explore Gasworks Gallery's existing and possible role within its local context of North Lambeth, London.

• How is Gasworks known, perceived and used by its audiences?
• How does Gasworks act and interact within the area?
• Are there any overlaps of interests with other individuals, initiatives and organisations?
• How can existing overlaps develop into a basis for future mutual engagement?
• What architectural ‘lay outs’ can be developed to strengthen the local role and direction of Gasworks as a space for the exhibition of contemporary art practice in relation to its users and its audiences?

Within a catalogue of proposals, lay out outlined various strategies for the development of the organisation in the short, medium and longer term. The proposals look specifically into ways of allowing and increasing exchange and cooperation with other local organisations, as well as finding successful solutions for the architectural redevelopment of the public gallery space.

lay out, is a method for exploring and proposing and was developed by art/architecture team Kathrin Boehm and Andreas Lang.

lay out consists of three elements:

• on site
  during June/July/August 2002 lay out established an Open Office at Gasworks Gallery, using various information, contacting and meeting tools. Over this period Boehm/Lang initiated a large number of formal and informal meetings with passers-by, neighbours, Gasworks artists’, staff and visitors, other local initiatives and cultural venues, representatives of the Council and various peer groups.
• database
  lay out's intention was to capture and record the on-site experience and observations, whilst simultaneously filtering out inherent proposals which could be applied to Gasworks. The database is a tool for representing this process and becomes a mapping device for a growing field of ideas, suggestions and comments. www.layout-gasworks.net
  
  
• catalogue of proposals
  how does a process generate an outcome? The pool of information and experience gained during the stay on site is the basis for all following proposals and as a consequence all propositions are embedded in the existing perception and understanding of the organisation itself. The proposals refer to a number interrelated parameters or set of scales

Relational Scales

• 1:1 scale, describes the relationship between the individual and Gasworks, e.g. passer by, Gallery visitor, Gasworks artist, member of staff,…
• Social scale, refers to the different user and interest groups in relation to Gasworks, e.g. the group of studio artists, the Tenants Association from across the road, all visiting artists,…
• Local scale, addresses Gasworks position as a public cultural venue within its immediate neighbourhood and the North Lambeth area.

• Recognising Gasworks, becoming aware of the nature, resources and possibilities of Gasworks (internally and externally).
• Getting in Contact, as a moment of recognition of common issues.
• Applying overlaps, common interests become the operational base for further engagement and utilisation.

Time Scales
The nature of activities and changes is affected by their immediate, semi-permanent or long-term intention.