5 Oceans, 5 Colonies: Sculpting Future Living Architecture On and Below Water

About

Are you eager to break disciplinary boundaries, engage in extreme survival simulations, explore nature-based solutions informed by systemic biomimicry and AI tools, and push the limits of what’s possible? If yes,

IMREDD, UNICA, and the UX Chair informed by Future of Living Architectural Lab invite transdisciplinary participants from all over the world to embark on an 11-day experimental summer lab—a nomadic, hands-on living laboratory. This is a place to explore, stimulate, simulate, and test disruptive ideas for the "Brave New World" of future living, where humanity thrives in extreme marine environments.

The Challenge: Sculpt speculative ocean colonies designed for extreme environments and survival conditions, using a combination of non-formal education, experimentation, observation, ideation, prototyping, and real-world testing

The Ocean colonies:
• Indian Ocean (near Madagascar) – A floating observatory & marine conservation habitat.
• Caribbean Sea (Gardi Sugdub Island) – A climate refugee colony resisting sea-level rise.
• Barents Sea – An extreme-environment mining & military outpost.
• Mediterranean Sea – A blue economy hub rethinking the region resource flows.
• Pacific Ocean – A speculative, undiscovered frontier TBD by participants

The PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Through hands-on learning, immersive experiences, exploration, observation, knowledge exchange, and collaborative group work, the program is structured into two main phases:

Pre summer school: (Online)
Two half-day online sessions designed to equip participants with essential knowledge about AI Kitchen Tools to support and enhance the design process:
• July 6th: ½ day, Online Session
• July 13th: ½ day, Online Session

Summer school: (In-Person | July 21–31, 2025)
• Incubation Phase: (July 21 – 24): Focus on understanding future modes of living, survival in extreme environments, and developing initial ocean colony concepts.
• Conceptual & Design Phase (July 25 – 28): Deep dive into systemic biomimicry through observation and exploration of living systems, engaging with researchers and ocean explorers. Participants will apply biomimicry methods using AI Kitchen Tools, 3D printing, and physical rain simulators.
• Final Development phase (July 29 -30): Refinement of concepts and preparation of final deliverables.
• Installation & Public Exhibition (July 31): Presentation of the final outcomes in a public exhibition—an opportunity to share the work, engage with the public, and animate public space in Nice.

for aditional info & registration: https://imredd.fr/summer-school/5-oceans-5-colonies-sculpting-future-living-on-and-below-water/

Target group

Open to transdisciplinary speculative thinkers, professionals, researchers, and students in architecture, design, engineering, urban planning, environmental science, and related fields—this program is for those eager to break disciplinary boundaries, engage in extreme survival simulations, and push the limits of what’s possible.

To maintain the highest quality experience, only 15–20 participants will be selected.
Application Period: April 1 – July 1, 2025

Fee info