Kola Bay Lighthouse Viewpoint: Wooden Pavilion Honors Arctic Industrial Heritage

The 89th edition of Glocal Design Magazine, titled 'Visionarias del espacio,' features 15 Mexican architects and interior designers, with covers by Prince Láuder and Jimena Estíbaliz. The issue explores architecture, design, and interiorism in Mexico. Meanwhile, the Kola Bay Lighthouse Viewpoint, commissioned by the Government of Murmansk Region as part of the 'Living in the North' program, transforms a hillside overlooking Kola Bay into a contemporary recreational landmark. Designed by Evgeny Makarenko Timber Architecture Workshop, the wooden pavilion evokes the silhouettes of lighthouses and port cranes, paying homage to the region's industrial memory. Its geometry softens industrial aesthetics through natural materials and human scale. The structure uses a wood joinery system minimizing metal fastenings, chosen for durability in the Arctic climate and ecological sustainability. The viewpoint offers year-round use: a lower terrace for northern sunlight and an upper level with panoramic bay views. Pedestrian pathways concentrate foot traffic to protect fragile Arctic mosses. The project exemplifies Makarenko's fifteen-year practice focused on timber as a primary material, spanning art installations, landscape elements, housing, and hospitality. Located five minutes from a residential area, the mirador serves as a visible landmark connecting inhabitants to the waterfront.