Porto dell`Anime I Costa Concordia Lighthouse

Competition Porto dell`Anime I Costa Concordia Lighthouse

The focus of our design, beyond a unique, highly functional and architecturally aesthetic lighthouse, is to develop a special place of remembrance for the 32 deceased, the multitude of traumatized people of the shipwreck and the relatives of the victims, creating a "genius loci" with an unforgettable atmosphere full of contemplation, respect and emotion.

In addition, we wanted to create an emblematic landmark for the island of Giglio and its inhabitants that would create commemorative value. Thus we created the "Porto dell`Anime" - the "Port of Souls", a port of arrival, of meeting and remembering.

The lighthouse at the site of the Costa Concordia accident can be seen from afar. Although it deliberately follows the classical typology of the archetype of a solitary, rounded lighthouse, with its inclination of exactly 65° it reproduces the inclination of the wrecked ship. Its homogeneous, shiny stainless steel shell reflects the sky, the sea and the coast, absorbing them, merging with them day and night. Thus its appearance changes every second and refers to the permanence of the forces of nature and at the same time to the transience of every moment.
The cross-sectionally oval lighthouse carries a likewise oval ring floating above the sea via filigree steel cables, standing for infinity, a circulation that at the same time "builds a bridge to the coast". This creates an axial connection from the site of the accident to the headland.

The circulation allows step by step contemplatively to trace the catastrophe and yet to take in the unique beauty of the wide view. It is entirely clad in teak, creating the effect of a monolithic ring. This wood contrasts with the technoid-looking steel tower with its tensioning ropes, as it grays with the natural elements, showing signs of weathering, of aging, which also refers to the transience of everything natural. The ropes form a constantly changing play of lines on the circulation, lighthouse and the sea, which excitingly enriches the appearance of the "Porto dell`Anime".

One reaches the circulation on the one hand at the apex of the oval through the natural land path, an existing footpath, flanked by solar panels that generate the energy for the operation of the lighthouse. Already this walk over natural terrain towards the circulation of the tower leaning towards the sea, that is, from nature to culture, puts the visitor in an extraordinary mood and expectation.

On the other hand, one can moor one's boat at the two connecting wings between the tower and the circulation, which offers the visitor a completely different, vertical perspective. There is also the entrance, through which the lighthouse keeper opens the lighthouse.

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