‘lanterna di mare’, a floating installation designed by alessandro loschiavo and francesco nava to connect europe and africa across the gibralter strait
‘lanterna di mare’, a concept by italian designer alessandro loschiavo in collaboration with francesco nava, is an installation of luminous buoys, marking the shortest sea passage between the continents of africa and europe and encouraging sports challenges for which the buoys serve as way markers and rest points. the design is a response to the ‘project heracles‘ challenge organized by domus magazine, which asked participants to design and document on a single postcard a work of infrastructure connecting africa and europe across the strait of gibralter.
‘lanterna di mare’ envisions large floating buoys, anchored to the seabed at 500-meter intervals across the strait. the markers are outfitted with solar cells, accumulating energy by day that is used to illuminate the buoys by night. in addition to serving as rest points or course markers for boats and daredevils seeking to swim across the sea, each lantern also contains basic medical equipment.
with ‘lanterna di mare’, loschiavo explains, ‘our response has been not to plan a permanent connection such as a bridge or tunnel, but rather to try to create the conditions for a sports contest, a route in stages, opportunities for challenges […] meant as a proud stand against all egoism.‘
the ‘project heracles’ postcards with be exhibited in a show opening july 21st, 2011, at the gopher hole gallery in london.
full view of a buoy, whose solar cells accumulate energy by day in order to provide illumination by night
detail view
the structures are meant to encourage competition, adventure, and acquaintance, serving as course markers and rest points for swimmers
Jan 02, 2026
Dec 28, 2025
Dec 17, 2025
Dec 04, 2025