Architecture Architecture The challenge of this adaptive reuse competition was to give new life to a ruined tower by the sea. In SAME Architects’ proposal the tower stays as it is, with minimal intervention, and a contemporary lighthouse rises on top of it, giving the coast back its role of seeing and being seen.
The ruins are part of history and should remain. Even worn by time and by the sea, they keep the memory of the place, so the restoration is limited to what is needed to strengthen the structure and prevent further decay.
Historically, the tower was used to watch who was approaching and to be seen by the other towers along the coast. The project keeps this idea, inverted: to be seen from the sea by passing boats and, from above, to look out over the sea and the landscape. By day, the roof is a public viewpoint. At night, the building becomes a lighthouse whose light guides those at sea.
The bold, sculptural volume stands apart from any other building or natural feature, so that it can act as a landmark in a bare coastal landscape, visible from the sea and from the town. Smooth, flowing concrete sits on the old stone and stands out from it, and the lightness of the upper volume contrasts with the weight of the base. The roof has a triangular plan, which lengthens the sea-facing façade and lets more people enjoy the view at the same time.
