Lighthouse Church in Heswall

A beacon for the community

Located south of Liverpool and directly on the coast, Heswall is a tranquil residential area with around 29,000 inhabitants. In the heart of this small town, a pioneering community project has been realised in the form of the new Lighthouse Church. With its design, the architectural firm shedkm has created a sensitive combination of modern design, sustainability and functionality. For the parish, this has created a meeting place that proves its sustainability for the future.

One of the client’s requirements was to create a building that was as sustainable and energy-efficient as possible. With the standing seam building envelope from Kalzip, a system was found for the roof and façade that both meets the strict thermal performance targets of modern building regulations and fulfils the desire for a contemporary aesthetic.

Eine Nahaufnahme vom Dach des Kinderkrankenhauses

Energy efficiency right up to the roof

Making the building thermally efficient was a key requirement. The Kalzip building envelope system is constructed with an insulating layer that has excellent U-values and significantly reduces heat loss. This enables efficient building operation with low energy consumption. This ensures sustainability and keeps long-term operating costs manageable – an important criterion for the community, for whom the planning specifications were of crucial importance. Chris Goldie, Regional Sales Manager at Kalzip, confirms: “Kalzip’s insulated system not only met the expectations of Lighthouse Church, but also improved the building’s environmental performance. The Kalzip system was developed for optimum U-values and plays a key role in the new church’s energy efficiency strategy. It helps to maintain interior comfort throughout the year while reducing heating requirements and CO2 emissions.”

In addition, Kalzip’s aluminium materials offer a long service life, are fully recyclable and require minimal maintenance – important characteristics for public buildings where durability and life cycle cost efficiency are key considerations.

Das Kinderkrankenhaus bei Nacht in der Vogelperspektive

Timeless architecture

For the exterior appearance of the Lighthouse Church, it was important to the architects to create a structure that expresses modernity while conveying a sense of security and hospitality. The use of seamless Kalzip standing seam profiles on the roof and wall surfaces created a clear, striking surface that reflects the simplicity and spiritual symbolism of the church’s form. The sharp lines and the play of shadows created by the standing seams emphasise the angular cubature and give the building a timeless, sculptural quality.

The flexibly adaptable standing seam system enabled seamless details at complex joints and roof angles, ensuring a uniform and precise end result.