An Oceanic Tower
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Find out more
Status
Client
Address
Date
Area
Program (Details)
Cafeteria, exhibition spaces, meeting area, observatory
Credits
Mikoü
Project Team
Architect
Mikoü
Structure
BOLLINGER GROHMANN
Fluids
–
HQE
–
Economy
SLETEC
The Lighthouse Tower is situated overlooking the bay of Rio de Janeiro, at the entrance to the city, directly in front of Copacabana Beach. Along with the monumental Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain, it serves as a key landmark for the city, easily visible and identifiable whether flying over Rio or approaching by sea.
The Lighthouse Tower stands as a poetic manifestation of the surrounding natural and urban landscape. It combines the tropical experience, characterized by vibrant, lush vegetation, and the vivid lights and skies of Brazil, while also reflecting a highly sensory urban environment.
We have conceived a tower that is quintessentially Brazilian, deeply intertwined with its geography. It encapsulates the imagination of its people, their beliefs, myths, and local history—shaped by the sensory experiences of light, sound, atmosphere, and the many inspiring perceptions tied to the unique geographic and urban context of the location.
Copacabana is one of the iconic landmarks of Rio de Janeiro, alongside Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain. This area embodies a form of “tropical modernity,” or “modern tropicalism,” representing an urban landscape rich in sensory experiences. It is not just a place, but a celebration, a collection of stories—those told by its people—and a narrative that spans the city, the country, and its landscape. The Rio Tower was conceived as a meeting point for these various imaginations, the territory, and the cultural essence tied to Brazilian identity. It serves as a platform for invoking the sensory richness of Brazilian landscapes.
Like a universal oasis, the only place where utopia might exist – within the realm of fiction. This is the conclusion drawn by the artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster in her film Plages (2001), where the central question revolves around whether it is truly possible to represent a place. An effort is made to define and locate Copacabana, yet it reveals itself to be a myth, a fiction, making it nearly impossible to portray as a tangible location.
