The Colossus of Khafji 

The Colossus of Khafji is a response to the endless dialogue between land, sea, and sky. Rooted in the deep architectural language of the Khaleeji, it begins as an extruded block which transforms into the shape of fire — a typology reimagined to bridge the ancient and the contemporary. The landmark is more than a navigational tool; it is a meta-symbol, a declaration of meaning, identity, and ambition. Its tectonic expression is intentionally dualistic — blocks shift, taper, and curve as they ascend, reflecting the interplay between organic urban growth and the precise logic of stonemasonry. The alternating layers of solid and perforated stone recall the desert’s hidden tectonic movements, the latent energy beneath its surface, and the power that fuels the modern world. Light and shadow are sculpted into the structure itself, dynamically shifting with the passage of time, while at dusk, the tower ignites — its perforated core glowing from within, crowned by a defiant blaze.

In the tradition of Coop Himmelb(l)au, this is an architecture that provokes and demands attention, a tower that burns not merely as a lighthouse, but as an idea and a challenge to the anonymity of modern cities.

Constructed from a combination of cutting-edge materials and an ethereal mesh, the fire appears at once solid and weightless, shimmering with movement as it captures the light. This dynamic interplay between material and illusion reflects the fundamental tension at the heart of the project — between tradition and modernity, permanence and ephemerality. Below, the landscape extends the narrative of the lighthouse, transforming the neighbouring plots, originally designated for commercial use, into a public park that elevates the project’s cultural identity. A hierarchy of walkways — primary, secondary, and tertiary — radiates outward, guiding visitors through a spatial journey that unfolds gradually, leading toward the tower. Pavilions, both enclosed and open, punctuate the landscape, offering shaded retreats, moments of reflection, and architectural surprises. The park is not merely an extension of the lighthouse but an integral component of its meaning — a shift from commerce to culture, from transient function to lasting identity. As the vegetation thickens near the tower, mirroring the vertical ascent of the architecture, the entire project blurs the line between built form and nature, earth and sky, culminating in a lighthouse that is more than an object — it is an experience.