Lighthouse 2014

Lighthouse 2014 is a permanent public art work at Riverlight Nine Elms , one of Europe’s biggest regeneration zones.Riverlight transforms a triangular, five-acre industrial estate into a residential-led mixed use and is part of the property developers St James (Berkeley Group) portfolio. Kate Davis won the light and water commission based on the success of her artworks installed at the Dockland Light Railway station Langdon Park which were completed with the artist David Moore in 2010. The commission was project managed by Futurecity a cultural place making agency and completed in partnership with Gillespies, MDM Props, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Scottscape. Lighthouse is the first element of a narrative artwork that will cover the 5 acre site and completed by 2017. This part of the commission responds to the subject of light and water within the public realm of Riverlight. Lighthouse comprises of a mirror polished stainless steel sculpture installed in the two plane trees ,the site’s only surviving original features and a series of embedded polished stainless steel arcs working with the landscape design, to enhance the experience of navigation through the park. A semi-circle of birch trees have been planted influencing the landscape design to make a counter space of reflection and contemplation. Lighthouse is revealed and hidden as the seasons pass, bringing reflection and light, as if from the river Thames, and draw it into the Riverlight landscape. Davis instigated a partnership between RCA and St James as a direct consequence of this commission which resulted in two initiatives; studioRCA,a public facing funded project space in Wandsworth and 5 student awards to create permanent artworks in each entrance of the residential buildings at Riverlight as an opportunity for RCA students to experience the commissioning process from beginning to end while at college