Berthel van het Goor, of Atelier BG, began making pottery about three years ago, beginning from the idea of wanting to work more with his hands. He previously studied architecture but felt the need for a more hands-on approach. Having attended art academy years ago, he found pottery to be the perfect medium to engage directly with the work, while still maintaining a connection to architecture. Currently, he’s working on a project with other architects that integrates ceramics into architectural design.

He has been at Contact for around a year now and has designed his studio space to be ideal for his creative process. What Berthel appreciates most about working at Contact is the facilities and the opportunity to share ideas and moments with others.

Berthel is currently working on a collection for a sanitary design store that he also sees as a type of exhibition, where the designer’s concepts are felt behind the pieces. He showcases sinks, furniture and other material that convey craftsmanship.

Inspired by the material earth, Berthel enjoys experimenting with how it can be shaped and formed. His creative process is about visualising a subtle interdependence between material, object, space and changing perspectives that creates a work of art.

One of his favourite projects was an architectural design he worked on during his studies that focused on the growing lack of empty space, the lack of the undefined, leaving an inflexible city. The leading concept was an architecture of removal, an architecture of dismantling as an act of generosity. An architecture that rejects the logic of constant productivity. The project he iscurrently working on now relates to this by using erosion as a design tool.