The lighthouses made of stone are the jewels of the Greek coasts that with their special beauty enrich the Lighthouse network. They evoke a sense of nostalgia in passers-by and rekindle hope in every sailor. They began to be built in the 19th century, with the creation of the Greek state. They were built by English, Greek and French engineers. These are the lighthouses that established the lighthouse network in Greece. Today there are 120 registered lighthouses made of stone and 56 of them are in good condition.
The object of the research of the present work is the architectural approach of the lighthouses΄buildings made of stone that are currently in the Greek lighthouse network. According to the design of the floor plans, most of the stone lighthouses consist of a lighthouse keeper house of rectangular plan and their tower is located in the middle of the closest facade to the sea, of the house. The organization of the floor plan in this way, is the most functional and offers freedom of movement to the lighthouse keepers. The tower does not cover useful space from the house, but at the same time communicates with it.
The exact geometric plan of the lighthouse goes hand in hand with its strict appearance. The usual facade of the lighthouse follows the morphology of Neoclassicism, is divided into base, trunk and crown. Its organization is three-part and symmetrical, in correspondence with the floor plan. The central part is slightly protruding and the lighthouse tower grows vertically as the central volume and axis of the building.
The lighthouses are characterized as simple buildings, with exact geometry.
At the same time, an architectural decoration can be seen, inspired by the local architecture, adorning the massive ledges. Also, we can observe decorative balcony supports made of marble and ornate stairwells leading to the light source of the lighthouse. These elements highlight each lighthouse and emphasize its uniqueness in the entire lighthouse network.
The lighthouses of Greece made of stone are a naval aid and at the same time cultural monuments of special beauty. The aim of this work is to highlight their special architecture, in order to give them the attention they deserve.
