If we were to think of the Ocean as a geographic place with spatial characteristics, histories, and desires inscribed into its waters, how could we begin to represent it? How could we position ourselves to interact with and to develop holistic strategies for such a place?
Sea space has become saturated with both the debris of an urbanised planet and competing uses. It is increasingly exploited and contested, resulting in a rising threat to the ecological balance of the world ocean. Challenges to planning the sea are manifold, and constitute an emerging area where new approaches are urgently needed and where architects can contribute by probing the hidden dimensions of spatial questions and communicating these dimensions visually.
Explorations in Ocean Space is a three-year cycle of master courses at Bergen School of Architecture which investigates the space of the sea, interactions between sea and land, and ways of representing and communicating these interactions. The courses aim to activate architecture and urban design in finding new ways to sense, represent and engage with the space of the sea, using the North Sea as a local laboratory.
The courses were initiated by architect Nancy Couling, following an 18- month Marie Curie post-doc research Fellowship at the TU Delft, «OceanUrb- the unseen spaces of extended urbanisation in the North Sea». The objective was to explore the potential of creative spatial projects and representations nourished by this research, and giving possible architectural expression to this highly industrialised and “urbanised” territory. Artist Vibeke Jensen’s current artistic research is focused on holistic systems, spatial dialogue and the paradigm shift, which are fundamental complimentary perspectives with which to approach ocean space.
Sea space has become saturated with both the debris of an urbanised planet and competing uses. It is increasingly exploited and contested, resulting in a rising threat to the ecological balance of the world ocean. Challenges to planning the sea are manifold, and constitute an emerging area where new approaches are urgently needed and where architects can contribute by probing the hidden dimensions of spatial questions and communicating these dimensions visually.
Explorations in Ocean Space is a three-year cycle of master courses at Bergen School of Architecture which investigates the space of the sea, interactions between sea and land, and ways of representing and communicating these interactions. The courses aim to activate architecture and urban design in finding new ways to sense, represent and engage with the space of the sea, using the North Sea as a local laboratory.
The courses were initiated by architect Nancy Couling, following an 18- month Marie Curie post-doc research Fellowship at the TU Delft, «OceanUrb- the unseen spaces of extended urbanisation in the North Sea». The objective was to explore the potential of creative spatial projects and representations nourished by this research, and giving possible architectural expression to this highly industrialised and “urbanised” territory. Artist Vibeke Jensen’s current artistic research is focused on holistic systems, spatial dialogue and the paradigm shift, which are fundamental complimentary perspectives with which to approach ocean space.