Dezeen School Shows: we've rounded up 10 student projects that draw upon themes and issues related to the sea, which feature in Dezeen School Shows.
These undergraduate and postgraduate students decided to highlight the issues facing the world's oceans in their projects, from the destruction of coral reefs to rising sea levels and plastic pollution.
Projects in this roundup include a lighting installation made from Covid 19 face masks, a series of textiles informed by water sports and architectural projects that propose various marine conservation centres.
Students who have created the projects are enrolled on interior design, textile design, product design and architecture courses at international institutions including Canadian University Dubai, the School of Visual Arts, University of Plymouth, University of Portsmouth, Cardiff University and the University of Sydney.
AMWAYJ: UAE Oceanograhy Institute by Nouran Elshimy
Nouran Elshimy designed a biomorphic complex of buildings while studying at the Canadian University Dubai, which aims to solidify the country's longstanding connection to the Arabian Gulf.
Positioned on a partially submerged site between the shore and the sand dunes of the Khor Fakkan desert, the mixed-use building aims to aid the reconstruction of coral reefs.
"[The project] presents a fusion between the landscape's sublime sand dunes and the ocean's fluidity, resulting in a harmonious convergence that is intricately translated into the building's organic design," said Elshimy.
"With an emphasis on coral reef restoration, the institute seeks to narrow the division between research and practical implementation, ensuring tangible actions."
Student: Nouran Elshimy
School: Canadian University Dubai
Course: ARC 562 Senior Project - Design
During her time studying textiles at Camarthen School of Art, Imogen Mills drew on her experiences of wild swimming to develop a collection of textiles.
The project – named Sublimity – aims to instil the same peace of mind achieved during cold water swimming as when weaving.
"Having swum in seas, rivers and lakes over the winter, I have faced my fear of deep waters and woven a textile installation to explore how sublimity can be achieved both through cold-water swimming and the act of weaving cloth," said Mills.
"These immersive sculptures are woven in thin wire and cotton, manipulated into forms that highlight the frailty of cloth. The viewer can see each individual piece of thread, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of how cloth is made."
Student: Imogen Mills
School: Camarthen School of Art
Course: BA Textiles: Knit Weave and Mixed Media
The Deep: Diving into Marine Geology by Hannah Gates
Interior design student Hannah Gates combined the functionality of a training centre for divers with a pertinent message about global warming in this project titled The Deep: Diving into Marine Geology.
Located in a repurposed shop in Margate, the mixed-use centre would include a large tank for divers to train in, as well as demonstrating the threat of rising sea levels in the former store, which has the appearance of being flooded.
"The relationship between building and tank creates a thought-provoking concept by demonstrating a flooded building, reflecting the impact of global warming and rising sea levels," said Gates.
"In addition to research laboratories for the cave diver and marine geologists, the building also aims to introduce the local community to scuba diving and marine geology."
Student: Hannah Gates
School: Regent's University London
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Design
Product and furniture design student Jack Tidy created a light installation in the shape of a fishtail surfboard, which is made from blue single-use face masks.
The project takes the form of a sculpture designed to be mounted on a wall that sheds light on the environmental impact of masks in the fallout of the Covid 19 pandemic.
"Masked Fish is a wall-mounted lighting installation in the form of a fishtail surfboard," said Tidy. "My project raises awareness of the impact of the billions of single-use masks that have entered the marine environment after being discarded during lockdowns."
Student: Jack Tidy
School: University of Plymouth
Course: BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design
The Hydro-Cultural Centre of the Piave by Daniel Dehghani
University of Portsmouth student Daniel Dehghani designed an architectural intervention that aims to restore the vitality of the Venetian Lagoon – an enclosed bay in northern Italy that is formed by the Adriatic Sea.
The goal of The Hydro-Cultural Centre is to channel sediment and freshwater to rebuild the lagoon, which is being impacted by rising sea levels.
"To combat the rise of sea levels and the many other disastrous consequences caused by climate change, it is time for architects to design interventions that respond to climate change threats," said Dehghani.
"This project aims to utilise a combination of landscape engineering and technology to create an architectural intervention that meets the needs of the Venetian people and, most importantly, restores the health of the Lagoon."
Student: Daniel Dehghani
School: University of Portsmouth
Course: MArch and MA Architecture: Landscape and Urbanism
Waives and Waves by Kirstin Taylor
During her time studying textile design at Arts University Plymouth, Kirstin Taylor drew on her experience of participating in water-based outdoor activities in her project named Waives and Waves.
Taylor decided to focus on the medium of Passmenterie, which involves using detail-orientated techniques to create elaborate three-dimensional patterns. The technique is traditionally used when creating edging for rugs or other soft furnishings.
"[I] combined pattern creation using the ordered and repetitive processes of weaving and sewing with the less predictable results of hand dyeing techniques and micro pleating," said Taylor. "Waives and Waves elevates the everyday in our homes, adding compelling finishing touches."
Student: Kirstin Taylor
School: Arts University Plymouth
Course: BA (Hons) Textile Design
The Spectral Theatre by Chris Hamblin
Architecture student Chris Hamblin replaced a dilapidated wharf in Sydney with a partially floating theatre, which projects out into the sea.
The Spectral Theatre has indoor and outdoor areas and intends to house contemporary performances.
"By demolishing the existing dilapidated wharf and restoring that which can be salvaged, the venue will draw attention to the site's past and embedded history from both pre and post-contact, while also providing a space for renewed, restored, and reclaimed ideas," said Hamblin.
"The theatre takes its name from a hypothesis that within the layers of our history lie the ghosts of our past."
Student: Chris Hamblin
School: University of Sydney
Course: Bachelor of Design in Architecture
Fading Cities Of Underwater – the Depletion of Corals by Himanshu Tiwari
Augmented reality and 3D projection mapping form the basis of this immersive installation by student Himanshu Tiwari. The piece aims to shed light on coral reef damage caused by humans.
"Himanshu Tiwari's final design project aims to bring awareness to the urban youth about the bleaching of corals," said Tiwari.
"The experience takes you through a journey that begins with a close-to-life experience of corals in their unaffected form, through to human actions and their effects, and culminates at a rather bleak but provocative image of bleached corals."
Student: Himanshu Tiwari
School: The Design Village
Course: Final Design Project
Virtue Lies in the Struggle, Not the Prize by James Miller
During his time studying architecture at Cardiff University, James Miller designed a campus for teaching people about the manufacturing processes associated with boats.
The site was originally a disused dockyard, with the goal being to reinvigorate the area and encourage cultural interest.
"In this unit, getting under the skin of a complicated town enables the development of a profound interest in how architecture can reach into the culture of a place and offer something social," said Miller.
"The project stitches the fractured dockyard into a new cultural campus for manufacturing and craft, nurturing the historical and current condition."
Student: James Miller
School: Cardiff University
Course: BSc Architectural Studies
Made By Water by Will Huanyo Kuang
While studying at the School of Visual Arts, student Will Huanyo Kuang designed a New York-based research centre that educates visitors about the dangers of ocean pollution.
Made By Water also contains a hatchery that aims to repopulate certain species that have dwindled as a result of environmental damage.
"Made by Water is an aquatic research centre designed to raise awareness of marine preservation and freshwater ecosystems," said Kuang.
"The intent is to foster the development of healthy and sustainable fisheries throughout the greater New York City metro area waterways and to educate and engage the public in marine wildlife conservation."
Student: Will Huanyo Kuang
School: School of Visual Arts
Course: Senior Thesis
Partnership content
These projects are presented in school shows from institutions that partner with Dezeen. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.