BUREAU highlights lake geneva lighthouse's lattice geometry with blue accents

"PHARE YLLIAM is a lighthouse developed by architecture firm for the waterfront of Geneva, Switzerland. Lighthouses carry a clear functional purpose and a distinct spatial presence. As singular vertical structures positioned at the edges of landmasses, they serve as navigational markers and contribute to the reading of the surrounding landscape. The project works within this typology while adapting it to the specific conditions of Geneva's harbor."

"Unlike traditional coastal sites often associated with dramatic cliffs or exposed terrain, the Geneva waterfront presents a calm, controlled environment. The project responds by reinforcing its infrastructural identity rather than replicating the familiar aesthetic of conventional lighthouse silhouettes. Set against a landscape of riprap, the structure emphasizes its role as part of a broader system rather than a symbolic standalone figure."

"The design references the hyperboloid structures developed by early 20th-century Soviet engineer Vladimir Shukhov, particularly their efficiency, transparency, and structural lightness. This approach results in a lattice form that visually shifts with changing light and atmospheric conditions, allowing the lighthouse to appear and recede depending on the viewpoint. Its vertical structure is anchored by a solid mineral base, a reinterpretation of the stone blocks that line the harbor."

PHARE YLLIAM is a lighthouse for Geneva's waterfront, adapted to calm, controlled harbor conditions. The design emphasizes infrastructural identity over traditional symbolic silhouettes and situates a lattice hyperboloid tower against riprap. The hyperboloid reference delivers efficiency, transparency, and structural lightness, causing the lattice to appear and recede with changing light and viewpoints. A solid mineral base anchors the vertical structure as a reinterpretation of harbor stone blocks. The interior unfolds across three levels: a sheltered base with a panoramic water opening, a compact cabin-like midlevel offering 360-degree lake views, and a top movable lantern integrated within structural pillars.

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