Installation Offers Beacon of Light In London’s Brutalist Cityscape

Photo: Luke Hayes

to Lee BromHe will be exhibiting his works in 2025 London Design Festival (LDF) It felt like a homecoming. After all, LDF began his career in 2007, and in the 18 years since then, the designer has created countless lighting products, sculptures and accessories. At this year’s edition of LDF, Brom unveiled one of his most ambitious projects to date, in collaboration with Czech glass experts. Brooks Pioneers of environmental design Assembling materials.

Located just outside London’s Southbank Centre, beacon She collected hundreds of glass shades, all organized in a circular formation. During the day, the structure’s silhouette was the star of the show, its angle complementing the shape Brutalist architecture Found throughout the region. However, as night fell, beacon It will truly live up to its name, casting a warm glow through the surrounding concrete, like a floating chandelier or central fireplace. Notably, the installation will run alongside the chimes of Big Ben across the River Thames. Only this participatory feature is highlighted beaconThe relationship of the site to the chosen location, from which Broome drew great inspiration.

“with beacon“Although it is a modern, progressive piece, it was important that it was also rooted in its environment and in the rich history of the Southbank Centre,” Broome said. interview With LDF.

In fact, the statue included many historical details specific to the site. They recalled the Victorian lampposts designed by George Vulliamy installed along the Thames in the 1870s, while their undulating texture responded to the imprints of Baltic pine embedded in the concrete walls of the Hayward Gallery. Above all, it was a reference to the 1951 Festival of Britain, where the Royal Festival Hall was described as a “beacon of change”.

but beacon It wasn’t just a historical homage. It was also an exercise in sustainability. Each glass cover is made from recycled parts from Brokis, and its structure is also designed with disassembly in mind. Now that LDF is finished, beacon They can now become “functional art, stand-alone installations for homes, or hanging chandeliers for public spaces,” according to the festival.

“I hope people take home a piece of bacon,” Broome said. “It wouldn’t just be a passing installation, it was important that it be long-lived and be able to evolve and continue to be part of the city in a new way.”

beacon It was showcased during this year’s London Design Festival, taking place from 13 to 21 September 2025. To learn more about the designer, visit Lee Broom’s website Website.

Lee Broom’s latest installation was on display during the 2025 London Design Festival, offering a beacon of light amidst the city’s brutalist architecture.

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Appropriately titled beaconthe installation consists of hundreds of glass panels, each made from recycled glass from the Brokis workshop in the Czech Republic.

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Photo: Luke Hayes

Lee Broom: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met has granted permission to display images from the London Design Festival.

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