Design competition entry by MuseLAB for Lighthouse Sea Hotel, hosted by Young Architects Competition

Lighthouse Sea Hotel; where architecture and land meet through open spaces.

Architecture is a constant dialogue between the built and the unbuilt, the inhabitable and the habitable, the realized and the desired. The quality of our life, the force of our memories, the importance of our day-to-day interpersonal exchanges, the reading of the environment, all these moments arouse in us emotions.

Situated on the cliff of Murro di Porco, the Lighthouse Sea Hotel has been planned with the intent of experiencing the expanse of the horizon – thelandscape has been punctuated by the built environment, which defines the in-between moments, as we traverse through the site heading from land to sea. Thus architecture here is the facilitator, the permeable element that allows for interchange and mediation at the pause points.

The site can be experienced in various ways giving individuals the liberty to move through the landscape at their own pace. The central pathway leads to the landmark light house structure that has been adapted to house the visitor’s centre and the maritime museum. Besides the central path there are primarily two paths – the first trail which is north of the lighthouse wanders through the community zone; which consists of the farmer’s market cluster and a research centre that culminates at the jetty and wraps around the southern edge of the cliff. The second path, south of the lighthouse begins at the resort reception and meanders through the resort units, the dining mess, staff quarter units and then wraps back around the edge of the cliff connecting to the jetty and the north trail. There are two other intermediate paths that begin at the light house; one snakes through the restaurant and the other leads directly to the edge of the cliff, both culminating at the jetty. 

The existing architecture of the region is primarily low-lying and simplistic with white-washed masonry walls and terracotta-tiled roofs.

As an intervention within the environment, the proposed units and facilities have been designed mainly as white-washed concrete extrusions. The structures have been rhythmically placed along the pathways with strategic openings and passageways to facilitate movement and experience. Thoughtfully perched on the landscape these structures have been designed using concrete, in order to cause the lowest possible natural impact. 

For winning entries visit Lighthouse Sea Hotel. 

SITE PLAN