Cubes Aleorion Genus by Vasilis Mylonas is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Architectura Competition Category.

AesArchitectura· 2022

Cubes Aleorion Genus

by Vasilis Mylonas

Client: bo.M Design Studio

Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum Winner in Architectura Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #126751

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The Design

About Cubes Aleorion Genus

Cubes Aleorion conceptus fari est quae elaborata est ad marginem aquae molis maritimi Volos Graeciae. Turris Phari componitur cubi informibus stipitibus concretis inter se reclinatis, centro sensim mutato, magnitudine differentiae et variis modis excisis, internas evacuationes faciens scalam ad cacumen. Foramina in quaque re constituunt diversa urbis prospectus, portus, sinus regio et ora adversa. Exposita omnia concreta compages resonat materialitatem urbis portum, stratam aquae molis et ambitus urbanos.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum

Cubes Aleorion Genus victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aeneum, honoris multum aestimati formis egregiis, creandi ingenio, sollertia et acumine insignibus dati. Victores Aenei opera perita et mire creandi sunt, quae experientiam, imaginationem et solertiam auctorum suorum confirmant. Exspectatur Cubes Aleorion Genus rem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, notabiliter professionalem et novam fore. Haec forma Aeneo victa optimas consuetudines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae amplectitur et in cura minutiarum excellit. Cubes Aleorion Genus necessitates egregie explet, cupiditates tangit, sensus capit et curiositatem allicit.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Cubes Aleorion is a proposal for a new lighthouse for the port of Volos, Greece. A tower is formed by cube shaped all concrete blocks that are placed upon each other, are horizontally slightly shifted off center and are cut out in various ways, creating internal voids that house the stairway to the top. It is a modern interpretation of the so called Aleorion of Xerxes, originally built around 480 BC in the middle of the sea passage between Skiathos island and mount Pelion in central Greece.
Dimensions & Packaging: Design concept was developed on the basis of cube shaped concrete blocks placed upon each other, forming a 14.25m tower.
Tags: lighthouse, concrete, brutalism, observatory, port, greece
Production Technology: Cubes Aleorion design concept was developed on the basis of cube shaped concrete blocks placed upon each other. The blocks are horizontally shifted around the main vertical axis, gradually differentiate in size and finally are cut out in various ways, creating internal voids and openings. Inside the hollow space created, the stairway to the top is being placed. The exposed all-concrete lighthouse structure echoes the materiality of the port breakwater and the urban character of the surroundings.
Design Challenge: The real challenge was to create ana architectural form that respects various factors at the same time, such the landmark position of the lighthouse at the entry of the city port, the materiallity and aesthetics of the urban enviroment and the long history roots of the city and the port itself and the character of a maritime nation sailing the Mediterranean for thousand of years.
Research: The research spanned almost the whole naval history of Greece and finally found inspiration at the most ancient maritime safety structure in the world that once stood on the reef Lefteris, in the middle of the sea passage between Skiathos island and mount Pelion in central Greece
Inspiration: The project was inspired by the so called Aleorion of Xerxes, built around 480 BC and once stood on the reef Lefteris of the Aegean Sea, Greece. It is considered as the most ancient maritime safety structure in the world, built 250 years before the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The Dolomite stones, used for the construction of the lighthouse were placed on top of each other forming a tower that functioned as a warning sign of the reef and the nearby very shallow waters.
Project Duration: Cubes Aleorion location is the port of Volos, Greece
Operation Flow: The vertical circulation, besides a necessity for technical and maintenance purposes, serves as an open invitation to visitors to explore the structure and enjoy the view. Each level frames a different viewpoint of the bay, thus creating new perspectives of the city, the port, the sea and opposite coast of the Pagasetic Gulf. The casual walk on the paved breakwater is enriched with a new end-destination, encouraging the extension of the city waterfront promenade onto the sea. A new landmark of the port and the city is born.
Image Credits: Image #1: Creator Vasilis Mylonas, Cubes Aleorion 01, 2021.
Image #2: Creator Vasilis Mylonas, Cubes Aleorion 02, 2021.
Image #3: Creator Vasilis Mylonas, Cubes Aleorion 03, 2021.
Image #4: Creator Vasilis Mylonas, Cubes Aleorion 04, 2021.
Image #5: Creator Vasilis Mylonas, Cubes Aleorion 05, 2021.