1. ArchDaily
  2. Lighthouse

Lighthouse: The Latest Architecture and News

An Alternative Museum for Burning Man and a Concrete Lighthouse: 12 Unbuilt Projects Submitted by our Readers

Gathering the best-unbuilt architecture from our readers' submissions, this curated collection features conventional, original and innovative functions. With projects from all over the world, this roundup is a conceptual discovery of different architectural approaches.

Art takes center stage in this week’s article with a different kind of museum for Burning Man, a futuristic art center in Slovakia, a museum dedicated to writing, and the Chinimachin Museum, inspired by the urban fabric of the city of Bayburt in Turkey. Moreover, the editorial showcases integrated houses, a redevelopment of a city block in London and mixed-use projects in Ukraine and Poland. New highlighted functions include a concrete lighthouse in Greece, a retirement complex in the Rocky Mountains of Lebanon, and a thermal hotel and spa in Cappadocia.

Andrea Cimini's Lighthouse Design Reinvents the Typology for the Age of GPS

Andrea Jasci Cimini has designed a contemporary interpretation of a historic building typology, the lighthouse. The success in the design not only stems from its pleasing visual appearance, but also in the redefinition of an aging typology. The lighthouse, as a building typology, has slowly evolved into a cultural relic as new technologies render it redundant.

Once an essential water navigation tool, Cimini’s design successfully preserves the conceptual elements of the lighthouse building type, while divorcing the building-type from its function. While the function has become somewhat obsolete, the building has adopted a cultural significance as a destination rich in history.

Building Burning Man: The Unique Architectural Challenges of Setting Up a City in the Desert

Building Burning Man: The Unique Architectural Challenges of Setting Up a City in the Desert - Image 1 of 4
The Black Rock Lighthouse Service by Jonny & Max Poynton. Image © Dan Adams

Every year in August, a temporary metropolis is erected in Black Rock City, Nevada. This is Burning Man, an annual event of art and architecture that attracts some 70,000 participants. The people who come to Burning Man come from all walks of life. What is incredible is that they come together to construct an ephemeral city that lasts for 7 days. These people assume the role of architects and construction workers and use the desert to build all sorts of shelters in a fast, sustainable way. The desert is so remote, and everything built in Black Rock City is packed and taken home at the end of the event, and some of the art is burned on site. This poses a unique architectural challenge. The people who have come to build these structures have to plan them way in advance to accommodate all the challenges of working in the desert, but the result is worth it - a striking, unique city, democratically built, set against a desert landscape, and for only one week.

We had the chance to interview Kim Cook at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin. Kim Cook is Director of Art and Civic Engagement at Burning Man. Kim Cook and her team are tasked with increasing the impact of Burning Man’s arts and civic initiatives. As part of her role, Kim engages with artists and community leaders to increase opportunities for funding, collaboration and learning.

Building Burning Man: The Unique Architectural Challenges of Setting Up a City in the Desert - Featured ImageBuilding Burning Man: The Unique Architectural Challenges of Setting Up a City in the Desert - Image 2 of 4Building Burning Man: The Unique Architectural Challenges of Setting Up a City in the Desert - Image 3 of 4Building Burning Man: The Unique Architectural Challenges of Setting Up a City in the Desert - Image 4 of 4Building Burning Man: The Unique Architectural Challenges of Setting Up a City in the Desert - More Images+ 1

Lighthouse Interiors: Call for Entries

CODE – Competitions for Designers – and Gruppo Romani S.p.A. announce “Lighthouse Interior," a competition for designers and creatives for luxury ceramics. The jury gathers outstanding personalities like Savin Couëlle, Clemente Busiri Vici jr, Martino Gamper, Ken Eastman and Manuel Aires Mateus. A total amount of €10,000 in cash prize will be awarded to the winner proposals and the first prize will be realized.

Lighthouse Interiors: Call for Entries - Image 1 of 4Lighthouse Interiors: Call for Entries - Image 2 of 4Lighthouse Interiors: Call for Entries - Image 3 of 4Lighthouse Interiors: Call for Entries - Image 4 of 4Lighthouse Interiors: Call for Entries - More Images+ 3

Winners of Concordia Lighthouse Competition Announced

Open-idea competition platform matterbetter has announced the winners of its Concordia Lighthouse Competition, which sought to pay tribute to the Costa Concordia Disaster of 2012 when a cruise ship capsized off the coast of Tuscany, causing 33 deaths. Open to architectural students and young architectural professionals, participants were asked to “redefine contemporary lighthouse typology and take into consideration advances in technology, development of sustainable systems and its metaphorical value which has made it one of the most inspiring structures in the world.”

Out of 282 entries, first place was awarded to Gwizdala Andrzej and Adrien Mans for their Concordia Lightscape design, which disperses the idea of a lighthouse into thin lines that increase in density as they move closer to the sea.