The Hook Lighthouse, the oldest intact operational Lighthouse in the world is a beautiful symbol of Ireland’s rich history. From the Monastery of St Dubhan to the Norman conquerors, we would like to intertwine the story of the lighthouse with the stories that comprise Ireland’s Ancient East.

A Journey: Our proposal is a journey, not just a building, it provides a continuous and playful path of discovery to visitors prior to reaching the lighthouse.  The journey begins with a story in the proposed amphitheatre. As they make their way through the interconnected spiral, above and below ground, the visitors will learn, develop craft skills through workshops, explore and unwind in the west facing restaurant and garden. The Lighthouse will reveal itself progressively through the openings in the landscape.

A Beacon: As a soft and gentle three-dimensional landscape with minimal visual impact on the existing site, the new visitor centre intends to be respectful to the lighthouse yet help the ensemble become a worldwide beacon of heritage tourism. The project’s curved geometry and openings are shaped by environmental factors such as the sun and wind, and together with solar water panels and seawater heat exchanger, the project attempts to reduce the need for expensive and polluting systems.

We have brought together a team of five pioneering specialist companies with relevant experience and a genuine enthusiasm to achieve a unique architectural experience.