Beacon by Lee Broom at the London Design festival 2025 – Photos by ©Luke Hayes, courrtesy of LDF and the designer.

Design. At this year’s London Design Festival, British designer Lee Broom unveils Beacon, a monumental lighting installation that stands as both artwork and symbol. Drawing on the familiar silhouette of classic street lamps, as well as the muscular lines of Brutalist architecture, the piece also nods to the legacy of the 1951 Festival of Britain, itself celebrated as a “beacon of change.”

• RELATED STORIES: Read more about London Design Festival 2025 on Archipanic.

Rising at the entrance of the Royal Festival Hall, Beacon glows like an urban chandelier, shimmering with light that shifts and pulses in response to the rhythms of the city. Crafted through a pioneering glass-fusing process, the installation transforms discarded fragments into radiant new forms, embodying a sustainable approach that marries beauty with responsibility.

The performance of light is carefully choreographed. “As Big Ben strikes the hour across the river, the installation’s illuminated shades will come to life,” explains Lee Broom. What begins as a slow, poetic pulse grows steadily in intensity, climaxing in a luminous crescendo that captures both drama and delight. In doing so, Beacon becomes more than a sculpture: it anchors itself to London’s time, history, and atmosphere, inviting passersby into a shared, immersive experience.

True to its ethos, the work has been designed with longevity in mind. After the London Design Festival, its components will be repurposed into individual light fixtures, ensuring that the story of Beacon continues in new settings.

Supported by the Southbank Centre, and brought to life with Bohemian lighting company Brokis and manufacturer Materials Assemble, Beacon stands as a powerful example of public art—open, accessible, and alive with movement. More than a landmark of design, it is a beacon in every sense: illuminating the city, connecting its people, and sparking a collective moment of wonder.

Photos are by Luke Hayes, courtesy of London Design Festival.

• RELATED STORIES: Discover more projects by Lee Broom on Archipanic.