The Lighthouse
2025
Sultburn-by-the-Sea, UK
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Project Overview
Project Overview
The P5 Lighthouse, located on the iconic Saltburn beach, stands as the first-ever lighthouse in the area. It blends artistic vision with functional design, symbolising Saltburn’s rich maritime heritage through an imaginative approach. The lighthouse incorporates a sandcastle design, topped with an octopus sitting on a navigation wheel — a fusion of historical significance and modern architecture.
Concept & Design & Evaluation
Concept & Design & Evaluation
The Lighthouse design concept blends history with modern creativity. Inspired by traditional maritime structures, it features a sandcastle structure crowned with an octopus, symbolizing Saltburn’s deep connection to the sea. The octopus's tentacles are a key feature, extending from the lighthouse and inviting visitors to approach in their own way. This interactive design encourages exploration and connection with the space.
Key Features
Key Features
The lighthouse serves both as a functional navigation beacon and an artistic monument, combining historical symbolism with modern architectural design.
- First lighthouse in Saltburn
- Sandcastle design, featuring an octopus sitting atop a navigation wheel
- Golden flanges face both north and south, guiding ships and reflecting sunlight
- Tentacles wrap around the base, allowing visitors to explore the space in a personalised manner
The golden parts of the lighthouse, especially the navigation routers, are designed to catch sunlight, creating dynamic reflections on the surrounding landscape. The tentacles further integrate the lighthouse into the environment, offering an organic connection with the landscape and a unique experience for each visitor.
Construction Challenges and Solutions
Construction Challenges and Solutions
Building the P5 Lighthouse presented unique engineering challenges, particularly with integrating the sandcastle design and ensuring its structural integrity. The mechanism for lifting the tower into place was one of the most innovative aspects of the project. We constructed the upper tower off-site, attached triangular legs to it, and then lifted it into position using a custom-built mechanism. This allowed for quick, efficient assembly and ensured the structure's stability in a challenging coastal environment.
Throughout the process, the design underwent several adjustments to meet the structural requirements, ensuring the lighthouse could withstand wind, loading, and other environmental factors.
Group Work
Group Work
The success of the P5 Lighthouse was the result of a collaborative effort among a diverse team of 27 individuals. The team was split into two main groups: the Sandcastle Team and the Timber Builders. Each person had a unique role, whether as project managers, safety officers, or media creators. Many team members also helped as general workers, contributing their time and energy to bring the design to life.
Negotiating between teams to blend various ideas into one cohesive project was challenging, but the end result speaks to the power of collaboration and shared vision.
Visitor Interactions and Public Engagement
Visitor Interactions and Public Engagement
One of the most exciting moments came when the P5 Lighthouse started attracting the attention of beachgoers. Visitors stopped by to observe the structure and engage with the stand we set up, which explained the project’s connection to Saltburn-by-the-Sea. It was gratifying to see how people interacted with the project and took an interest in the process behind it.
As I spoke with some of the passersby, it became clear how much they appreciated both the artistic and functional aspects of the lighthouse. This interaction between architecture and the public added another layer of meaning to the project.
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