Tentatively named "Battle of England Lighthouse", the 116-meter tower will appear on the grounds of the Royal Air Force Museum. It will combine memorial functions and a museum exposition. It is supposed to be opened for the 75th anniversary of the Battle, in 2015.
The architects of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios intend to give the tower a hexagonal plan, and with increasing height, the cross-section of the building will acquire a rounded shape. A "fracture" of its volume in the middle will give it dynamics. The metal cladding of the facades will be cut through by vertical glazed stripes; also, sunlight can enter through the perforation of part of the panels.
The main exposition will be located on the ground floor, from where visitors can climb to the top of the tower: there, in the space above the glass floors, in the open air, copies of Messerschmitt, Hurricane and Spitfire fighters will be installed in imitation of air combat. It is planned to use various audio materials to create the illusion of reality. There is also planned an external observation platform with views of London.
Along with a memorial and educational function, the "Battle of England Lighthouse" will also play an urban planning role, marking the entry into the capital along the busy M1 highway passing nearby.
