UC design students discuss Extreme Environments

Students in the Extreme Environments design class in the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning are meeting and working at the bottom of an Olympic-sized pool.

The idea behind the program is to have students first experience an environment before designing for it, and, last month, they submitted designs to France's Archipelaego competition.

Brian Davies, associate professor of architecture, tells Archinect that their "foray into underwater architecture is motivated by a conviction to inspire greater respect for the planet and by opportunities to enable exploration and science that will contribute broader understanding to fuel such respect."

"As designers it is our job to be knowledgeable and respectful of the impact structures, be it land, water, or space, have on the environment," says Emma Scarmack, third-year architecture student.  "The technology is here currently for us to be more conscious of built structures on land, but maybe not entirely there for underwater structures."

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