How to recycle a lighthouse?: Circular adaptive reuse possibilities of a particular kind of maritime heritage in France
2026 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 30 credits / 45 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
France is a country with a significant number of lighthouses on its coastline; however, nowadays, some of them are decommissioned, abandoned and left to decay. This thesis examines how cultural heritage adaptive reuse can recycle not only the lighthouses as heritage buildings but also their values through a new use of the building. To achieve this objective, a literature review will be conducted to identify the particularities of lighthouses as a cultural heritage building, and the various challenges arising from these specific characteristics. The literature review will also contain a discussion on the adaptive reuse and circular economy principles applied to cultural heritage. A case study of the “Tour du Commerce” or “phare du Commerce” lighthouse, located in Saint-Nazaire, France, will be conducted. The main focus of this case study will be to understand who the different stakeholders are involved in such a project, and how they can work together on a project of sustainable adaptive reuse. Special attention will be paid to the involvement of the local community in the project and how it can act as a driving force for the project's development. This thesis seeks to complement previous academic work by examining the subject of lighthouse adaptive reuse from another perspective, focusing on applying sustainability principles in the French context for lighthouse adaptive reuse.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 60
Keywords [en]
Lighthouse, adaptive reuse, France, sustainability, circular economy, stakeholders, local community, heritage studies
National Category
History and Archaeology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-593646OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-593646DiVA, id: diva2:2084066
Subject / course
Cultural Heritage Preservation
Educational program
Master's Programme in Cultural Heritage and Sustainability
Supervisors
Examiners
2026-07-032026-07-032026-07-03Bibliographically approved