Cubes Aleorion Vuurtoren by Vasilis Mylonas

Cubes Aleorion Vuurtoren by Vasilis Mylonas is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award in Brons in Architectuur, Gebouwen en Constructieontwerp Competition Category.

BronsArchitectuur· 2022

Cubes Aleorion Vuurtoren

by Vasilis Mylonas

Client: bo.M Design Studio

A' Design Award in Brons Winner in Architectuur Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Cubes Aleorion Vuurtoren

Cubes Aleorion is een concept vuurtoren die is ontwikkeld voor de rand van de golfbreker van de zeehaven van Volos, Griekenland. De vuurtorentoren is samengesteld uit kubusvormige betonblokken die op elkaar zijn gestapeld, geleidelijk uit het midden zijn verschoven, in grootte verschillen en op verschillende manieren zijn uitgesneden, waardoor interne holtes ontstaan die een trap naar boven herbergen. Openingen op elk niveau omlijsten verschillende perspectieven van de stad, de haven, de baai en de tegenoverliggende kust. De blootliggende geheel betonnen constructie weerspiegelt de materialiteit van de stadshaven, de verharde golfbreker en de stedelijke omgeving.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Brons

Cubes Aleorion Vuurtoren is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Brons, een hoogst prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan uitstekende ontwerpen die zich onderscheiden door creativiteit, vindingrijkheid en scherpzinnigheid. Winnaars in Brons zijn ruimschoots vaardige en opvallend creatieve artefacten die de grote ervaring, verbeelding en het vernuft van hun ontwerpers bevestigen. Cubes Aleorion Vuurtoren wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerd, bewonderd en gekoesterd object te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Brons heeft gewonnen, verwerkt de beste praktijken in kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie en is uitstekend door zijn aandacht voor detail. Cubes Aleorion Vuurtoren bevredigt schitterend behoeften, raakt verlangens, charmeert gevoelens en spreekt de nieuwsgierigheid aan.

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.