Nautical Lighthouse

Inspiration and Concept Development

The nautical aesthetic is often defined by a combination of weathered textures, deep blues, crisp whites, natural wood, and metal accents, all of which evoke the feeling of being near the sea. From old fishing boats to historic lighthouses, the nautical aesthetic carries a sense of adventure and timeless beauty.

I wanted this project to highlight the importance of sustainability by using materials that are often discarded. The idea of transforming everyday waste into something meaningful felt like the perfect embodiment of the upcycling concept. The aesthetic I was aiming for combined the rugged charm of a traditional lighthouse with the character that comes from using repurposed materials.

When brainstorming, I realized that my roommates’ avid love for Coke products offered the perfect material, cans. I could use the colored surfaces to create the lighthouse’s structure while giving new life to something that would have otherwise been thrown away.

Vision and Specifications

My goal was to create a tabletop lighthouse sculpture that would be, hopefully, aesthetically pleasing. While the piece doesn’t function as an actual light source, the inclusion of the ping pong ball “light” at the top completes the iconic lighthouse silhouette. My goals for the aesthetic were to sufficiently portray the nautical aesthetic by using bold, recognizable materials like the red and silver from Coke and Diet Coke cans. The functional goals I had were to make sure the lighthouse could stand securely and make it somewhat visually similar to an actual lighthouse.

Materials and Adaptations

All the materials used in this project were recycled or repurposed:

• Coke and Diet Coke Cans: Donated by my roommates, these were the primary material for the lighthouse’s structure as well as the light area. Their metallic surfaces and distinct colors added visual interest.
• Wine Bottle: Served as the core structure. Its shape provided the perfect tapered base, giving the lighthouse height and stability.
• Gatorade Bottle: Cut and placed on top of the wine bottle to better represent a lighthouses shape.
• Ping Pong Ball: Placed at the top to represent the beacon light of the lighthouse. Its round, matte white surface contrasts nicely against the metallic cans.
• Old Wood Slab: Sourced from a dumpster outside the Engineering Center, this piece acts as the base for the lighthouse, grounding it in a rustic, weathered aesthetic.

Fabrication Process

1. Collecting Materials:
The first step was gathering materials. My roommates had an extensive collection of Coke and Diet Coke cans—perfect for the main structure. I also found an old wine bottle in our recycling bin, which sparked the idea to use it as the lighthouse’s core. The wood base came from a dumpster near the Engineering Center, which I cleaned to prep for use.

2. Cutting and Shaping the Cans:
I carefully cut the soda cans into flat sheets using scissors and a utility knife. This was the trickiest part—aluminum is thin and sharp, so I had to handle it carefully. Once flattened, I cut the sheets into strips and wrapped them around the wine/Gatorade bottle base, layering the red first then going back and adding the white strips.

3. Building the Lantern Room:
For the top of the lighthouse, I hollowed out another soda can to create the “lantern room,” where the light source would typically be. The ping pong ball was placed inside to represent the beacon light.

4. Assembling the Wood Base:
The wooden base was cleaned but left original enough to keep its character. I attached the wine bottle to the wood using strong adhesive.

5. Final Touches:
To tie everything together, I added small details like dents and scratches to emphasize the weathered, nautical look. I also left some can logos exposed to highlight the upcycled materials.

Final Artifact Description

The completed lighthouse stands around 18 inches tall, with the wine/Gatorade bottle base providing height and the layered Coke can panels creating the signature lighthouse form. The alternating red and silver from the Coke and Diet Coke cans add visual interest, while the ping pong ball placed at the top adds a feature for the light source found in lighthouses.

The artifact sits securely on the rough wooden base, grounding the piece and enhancing its nautical aesthetic. It’s lightweight but stable, with the wine/Gatorade bottle core providing structural integrity.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

The biggest challenge was working with thin aluminum. It was sharp, flimsy, and tough to wrap smoothly around the wine bottle. I ended up embracing some of the dents and bends as part of the aesthetic, but it required patience and precision. Another challenge was balancing the structure’s weight—the wine bottle provided great stability, but attaching the aluminum without it sliding or slipping was difficult. After experimenting with different adhesives, I found that superglue worked best. Through this process, I learned the importance of adapting to material limitations and that imperfections can actually enhance the final piece, especially when aiming for a rustic aesthetic.

The lighthouse successfully met its functional goals in several key ways. Firstly, the combination of the wine bottle and the wood base provided unexpected stability, ensuring the structure stood securely without wobbling. In terms of material usage, every component used in the project was repurposed, staying true to the upcycling objective.

When considering the artistic goals, the project also met expectations. The use of weathered wood and the classic tiered lighthouse shape perfectly captured the nautical aesthetic I aimed for. Beyond its visual appeal, the piece holds a strong personal touch, as the materials were sourced directly from my own living space, adding layers of meaning to the design. Finally, the project communicates its sustainability message. The visible Coke and Diet Coke logos on the aluminum panels act as constant reminders of the artifact’s recycled origins, reinforcing the upcycling theme.

What’s Next?

I’m really happy with the way the lighthouse turned out, but I’m considering adding a small LED inside the ping pong ball to give the lighthouse an actual glow. It wouldn’t take much—a simple battery-powered LED could fit inside. I also might experiment with scaling the project up, possibly using larger cans or bottles to create an outdoor version that could act as garden decor. For now, the lighthouse has a permanent spot on my shelf—a personal reminder of sustainability, creativity, and a whole lot of Coke and Diet Coke.

Works Cited

Image 1 – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/242983342388444482/

Image 2 – https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.aILRwEG5SfgpyWlBk2o7KwHaH7?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain

Image 3 – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/465911523941369736/