is the flagship project of the Foundation. Conceived as a landmark on the coast of the United Kingdom, it is envisioned as a place for memory and cultural transmission across generations. The project brings together craftsmanship, architecture, sound, engineering, literature, ritual, and landscape into a single ecosystem, structured around attentive engagement with nature and human experience.

At the centre of THE SAPIENS GARDEN stands a 42-metre wooden lighthouse, constructed using timber-frame technology and clad in larch. The lighthouse serves a navigational function and acts as the spatial anchor of the project, reflecting continuity between memory, culture, and time.

Surrounding the lighthouse, a Garden is formed in which each tree is associated with the name of a philosopher, poet, scientist, or composer whose work has had a significant impact on the development of culture and human thought. The Garden is conceived as a living cultural setting where memory, experience, and time evolve alongside people and are transmitted through care, presence, and repeated practices.

is an independent charitable initiative in the United Kingdom, currently at the stage of preparation for formal legal establishment. The Foundation is being formed as the strategic and governance core of THE SAPIENS GARDEN and is responsible for defining its mission, developing international partnerships, maintaining reputational integrity, institutional transparency, and long-term cultural legacy.

· NORLAFT — craft-based timber architecture and handcrafted wooden houses.
· THE SAPIENS GARDEN — a cultural landmark in the United Kingdom 
· IND.LAB. — music and sound developed as spatial and architectural elements.
· A-ETHERIA — an interdisciplinary literary work combining text, sound, and archetypal imagery.
· THE SAPIENS DISPATCH — an artefact-based initiative for cultural dialogue.
· LUX MEMORI — an artefact-based model for funding and supporting long-term cultural projects.
· NORLAFT REFORESTATION — regenerative forestry, cultural landscapes, and living heritage ecosystems.

Alex Skarshelg is a cultural spatial architect, master carpenter, and author working across architecture, sound, literature, dramaturgy, and artefact-based diplomacy. His work focuses on creating durable forms of memory and cultural continuity, bringing together craft, landscape, and human presence into an integrated whole.

THE SAPIENS GARDEN is currently in the pre-development phase. Its conceptual framework has been defined and documented and is now being translated into design work. In 2026, the project enters schematic design, partnership development, the creation of a lighthouse prototype, and the preparation of presentation materials.
The project has initiated institutional dialogue with international cultural and governmental bodies, including the Holy See, His Majesty’s Household, UNESCO, and LUMA Arles. Within the framework of the publishing and communication initiative THE SAPIENS DISPATCH, materials related to THE SAPIENS GARDEN have been formally sent to the above-mentioned institutions, and receipt has been acknowledged.

© Alexander Tsvelev / Alex Skarshelg, 2026. 
All rights reserved. All conceptual, narrative, architectural, and cultural materials presented on this website are the intellectual property of Alexander Tsvelev / Alex Skarshelg, unless otherwise stated. 
These materials are formally documented and protected under UK and international copyright laws.
UK Copyright Service Registration Number:
68e8cc85-DMCW-17c-8569e5-0003

Alex Skarshelg
Cultural Architect & Master Craftsman

77 St Marks Road
London W10 6JT
United Kingdom
Email: alexskarshelg@gmail.com