Private collector

Rome, Lazio, Italy

 

After “Scorpios” and “Peace Light” lighthouses, in 1974, John Vassar House (JVH) designed and cast a new bronze lighthouse model named the “West Coast Tower.” 

This time the structure changes radically. For this third lighthouse, he also commissioned preliminary architectural drawings. This tower maintains the simultaneous extension and connection between the 3 of the four classical elements earth, water and air. The three static resting pronged legs of “Scorpio” and “Peace Light” are now replaced by a number of curved interconnecting structural passageways, creating a bonding and moving effect of earth, water and air. 

Also, this tower was planned to be about 170 meters (558 feet) high.

This is JVH’s West Coat Tower description: 

FLOW THAT SWEEP BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DIVERSE TERMINAL POINTS OF THIS STRUCTURE ARE INTENDED TO SYMBOLIZE HARMONY AND INTERDEPENDENCE BOTH IN THE PLURALITY OF NATURE (LAND, SEA, AND AIR) AND IN MAN (RACE, RELIGION, AND NATION).

FOR THIS SYMBOLISM TO LIVE IT MUST HAVE THE PRID E AND SUPPORT OF A COMMUNITY WHICH BELIEVES THAT IDEALS DO EXIST, AND IT MUST HAVE A COMMUNITY WHICH IS ABLE TO SUMMON THE WORLD TO ITS DOORS, WHETHER IT BE TO HOLD A CONFERENCE IN THE AUDITORIUM, OR TO ATTRACT TOURISTS TO MOUNT THE SUCCESSION OF BELVEDERES THAT PROGRESSIVELY LEAD UP TO THE PRISM.

THIS LATTER ELEMENT, THE FOCAL POINT OF THE DESIGN, IS REACHED BY ESCALATOR AND ELEVATOR, AS WELL AS BY RAMPS AND STEPS. CONCEIVED AS AN AERIE WITH A SPECTACULAR VIEW, IT HOUSES A CRYSTAL PRISM WHOSE REFRACTION REPRESENTS HARMONY IN DIVERSITY.

The three lighthouse project models being, “Scorpios”, “Peace Light” and “West Coast Tower” were inevitably meant to remain models never to be enlarged. The esthetic beauty of the lighthouses remains a dream for JVH. Each model leaves a story and message in terms of symbolism and form.