Plans For a New Ultra-Postmodern 'Colossus of Rhodes' Are Brewing

The Colossus of Rhodes, a thirty-metre high sculpture depicting the Greek Titan God Helios that once stood guard at the entrance to the city's harbour, may be realised once again. Standing for only 54 years until it was destroyed by an earthquake in BC226, it's position in the ranks of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World has become almost mythological. Plans to construct a new, much larger inhabitable statue—that will stand almost four times taller at 122 metres—have now been put in motion by a collective of architects, engineers and tourism agents.

Topped by a "crowning lighthouse," the new Colossus would house a library, museum, cultural centre, and exhibition centre and is estimated to cost in the region of $250million. Learning from the previous Colossus' unfortunate past, this proposed version—although much larger—will be structurally designed to counter the effects of earthquakes. It's golden skin, though reflective, would act as a surface for the capture of solar energy. Although no construction dates have been set, primarily because the group plan on crowdfunding the majority of the capital required, the idea of ultra-postmodern resurrected monument to the human form might just be enough to capture global interest.

http://www.archdaily.com/