Since 1992, following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, World Oceans Day has been celebrated on June 8 as a tribute to the sea and everything it offers, from raw resources to its powerful presence as a landscape landmark. In architecture, projects that engage with this infinite expanse of water have the opportunity to dialogue directly with one of nature's most powerful and expressive elements.
Designing buildings in relation to the ocean represents a unique design opportunity with inevitable and invaluable precedents. Among them is Alvaro Siza's Leça Tidal Pools complex in Leça da Palmeira, Portugal, which has served as a public amenity for locals and tourists from around the world for over two decades—a masterclass in landscape design. Another landmark example is in Zadar, Croatia, where in 2005 architect Nikola Bašiæ redesigned the city's seafront, creating the Sea Organ, an installation that harnesses wave motion to generate sound and atmosphere within the urban landscape.
Whether public commissions or private spaces, we have selected a range of examples demonstrating that the connection between architecture and the sea can yield extraordinary results, serving as a testament to the diverse ways in which culture and nature can be brought together.
_-_Peter_Hastrup_Jensen.jpg?1591368247 "Architecture at Sea: 9 Projects Related to the Ocean")
