tsai karopoulos & kil present finalist sea hotel concept

tsai karopoulos & kil present finalist sea hotel concept 
images courtesy of jay tsai, dimitrios karopoulos, kris kil

a three person team consisting of jay tsai, dimitrios karopoulos, and kris kil, were selected as finalists in the lighthouse sea hotel contest hosted by young architects competitions. the brief called for reinvigoration of the murro di porco lighthouse and surrounding area.

full circle

unfortunately, small details of the capo’s mystical landscape tend to becoming lost in its vastness. thus, the proposed intervention, ‘sea hotel’ attempts to frame key features, revealing nuances in small increments rather than in mass. to create various focal points a 70×70 meter canopy, lifted four meters from ground level, was situated on the site. smooth and white, its overt presence forces a visual break in the vista. this juxtaposition draws views inwards toward the lighthouse — the primary attraction — and immediate vicinity.

low laying structure

the canopy does more than just emphasize the structure. dozens of square ‘frames’ allow natural light to stream into the ‘sea hotel’, also allowing for guests to catch small glimpses of the surroundings. below, black timber floors are punctuated identically. similar in function, glass sections reveal the earth’s surface. a forest of thin, tapered columns hold the roof. repeated rigorously throughout, various densities organize interior spaces. arrangement allows spatial division, while maintaining a light, porous environment. 

sky frame

section AA

canopy organization

structure

perspectives

column densities

floor plan 

site plan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions  feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: nick brink | designboom