Architects require solid ground on which to base their practice, yet oceans have always been a key element shaping the history of architecture and the built environment. This themed conference aims to shift the focus of architectural history from the land to the sea. It will address the planet’s bodies of salt water either as areas of increasing urbanization (through the building of structures such as underwater cables, oil rigs, windmills, etc.), as connectors between space and cultures (navigation routes for people and resources, transported in the form of knowledge, labour, and materials), or as an ecosystem functioning, in connection with the land, as an essential life-support system (defining climatic patterns, providing resources from food to raw materials, and securing services from carbon sequestration to large-scale habitats). The conference aims to bring together scholars representing a wide range of interdisciplinary knowledge and sets out to cover a broad chronological scope, from deep history and archaeological sources to more recent accounts of ecological decline and potential futures. Where is the architecture of the sea? To what extent does the built environment impact saltwater landscapes? What reciprocal impacts do seascapes have on the built environment?
The Built Ocean
EAHN Thematic Conference
Porto, 10–13 September 2025
Call for papers
The oceans that shape our planet are the focus of this conference. Its goal is to frame the current state of architectural research in relation to these bodies of salt water, to broaden horizons, and to unpack ongoing projects that emphasize a fundamental shift in our perception of both the oceans and architecture. Climate change has publicly exposed the fundamental role of the oceans in balancing the planet’s ecosystems, a fragile equilibrium that is under threat: there is a relationship between the ongoing environmental destruction that is taking place and the increasing exploitation of water bodies. Such dynamics might be understood as a recent phenomenon, yet their conceptual roots are imbued with historical depth and architectural reasoning.
Convened at a moment when architectural history is exploring aspects of globality, this conference provides space in which to view the discipline through an ecological lens, addressing non-Western systems of knowledge, decolonizing perspectives, and welcoming topics from around the world with an interdisciplinary frame of reference. Ocean-centred scholarship has been dominated by disciplines other than architecture, and building practices happening in the ocean are often overlooked. Architectural history has the potential to combine knowledge, connect different expertise, and address pressing ecological concerns. The conference aims to understand a material history of the oceans, where architectural objects are to be interpreted through a variety of disciplines, from science and technology to humanities and culture, from ecology to law and engineering. We encourage scholars from all backgrounds to contribute to an interdisciplinary discussion. The ocean is not a void, and architectural history is a unique form of knowledge that can be used to chart it.
We have established a broad chronological scope for the conference, from deep history and archaeological sources to more recent accounts of ecological decline and potential futures. Oceans have been recently urbanized, but there is a long history of oceanic construction providing a standpoint from which to reassess and reconceptualize the relation between architecture and marine environments. While the shore might provide safe ground upon which architectural historians can lay the foundations of their subjects, we are seeking papers that address liquid dimensions rather than the land. As an edge, the shoreline is not a closed boundary, and we aim to identify the connectivity between land and sea. We encourage scholars to position their research such that it reflects the ocean’s perspective and to understand the impacts of building practices on intertidal areas, on the water column, and even out in the deep sea.
The conference seeks papers that focus on processes of transformation and change, and address the following questions through a variety of historical lenses:
— Oceans as areas of urbanization:
* Structures above the sea such as windmills, underwater cables, oil rigs, and a large panoply of floating structures whose existence relies on their direct relation to the sea, rather than on land reclamation
* Artificial islands and floating constructions
* Underwater structures and concrete or fictional explorations of how to inhabit or simply build in aquatic environments
* Mythologies and world views from societies without hard barriers between land and sea, microcosms and philosophies of space deriving from the ocean space
— Oceans as connectors between space and cultures:
* Architecture and built or unbuilt devices for reconceptualizing the ocean space
* Tourism networks and underwater archaeology, from ancient cultures to modern remains
* Ships as a form that inhabits the ocean (related more to ocean history than to maritime history), and naval architecture as a source of information about ocean dynamics, currents, and climate and as a means to question terrestrial assumptions
* Bodies of water as infrastructural supports, navigation routes for people and resources, transported in the form of knowledge, labour, and materials
* The representation of the oceans through architectural means, and its aesthetic consequences
— Oceans as ecosystems:
* Architecture as a tool for resource extraction or resource management
* The relations between currents, oceanographic conditions, natural systems, and species and major architectural practices and forms
* Constructions and interventions in intertidal areas benefiting from their specific habitats and engaging with oceanic species
Proposals are to be submitted using the conference’s online platform through this link; they should include an abstract of no more than 400 words and an author’s bio (c.200 words per author).
Abstracts will be evaluated primarily on the basis of their relevance to the conference theme; innovative methods, interdisciplinary exploration, and sound research will also be taken into account. Contributions should be the result of original research and should not have been previously published or be in the process of being published elsewhere.
We welcome and encourage proposals from researchers from around the world, at any career stage and representing a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds and methodological approaches to architecture and the built environment—including but not limited to marine biology, ecology, literary studies, history, geography, archaeology, anthropology, or media studies.
For additional queries, please send an email to fish@arq.up.pt
Submit your abstract through the registration platform here.
PROGRAM
DAY 1 Wednesday September 10, 2025
Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP)
14:30–16:30 Workshop and informal meetings
Cinema Passos Manuel
21:00-22:00 Conference Opening
DAY 2 Thursday September 11, 2025
Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP)
9:00—10:15 Welcome and opening session
10:15—12:00 Parallel Sessions
Session 1: Resources (FAUP Drum)
Session 2: Connectors (FAUP Flat Room)
12:00—14:00 Lunch break
14:15—16:00 Parallel Sessions
Session 3: Ecosystems (FAUP Drum)
Session 4: Spaces (FAUP Flat Room)
16:00—16:30 Coffee break
16:30—17:30 Keynote - Extra program (FAUP Flat Room)
John Durham Peters (tbc)
16:30—17:30 Sunset by the sea
Leça Swimming Pool
DAY 3 Friday September 12, 2025
Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP)
9:00—10:45 Parallel Sessions
Session 5: Animals (FAUP Drum)
Session 6: Images (FAUP Flat Room)
10:45—11:15 Parallel Sessions
Session 7: Habitats (FAUP Drum)
Session 8: Cultures (FAUP Flat Room)
13:00—15:00 Lunch break
15:00—16:00 Keynote (FAUP Flat Room)
Olive Heffernan - The High Seas
16:00—17:00Conference Closing (FAUP Flat Room)
20:30—Conference Dinner
DAY 4 Saturday, September 14, 2025
Tour 1 (Porto) 10:00-12:00 Could be worse — Pedro Figueiredo
Tour 2 (Porto) 10:00-12:00 Alfândega
Tour 3 (Viana do Castelo) 10:00-16:00 Windmills — Ivo Poças Martins
Tour 4 (Póvoa de Varzim) 10:00-16:00 Algea Landscapes — Daniel Duarte Pereira
Organization
General Chair
André Tavares, Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto
Scientific Committee
Christy Anderson, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto
Paul Bouet, EAHN representative, Ecole nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris-Est, Université Gustave Eiffel
Carson Chan, Emilio Ambasz Institute, Museum of Modern Art, New York
Nancy Couling, Bergen School of Architecture, ETH Zurich
Mari Lending, The Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Helen Rozwadowski, University of Connecticut
André Tavares, Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto
Panayotis Tournikiotis, EAHN president, National Technical University of Athens
Organizing Committee
Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto
Filipa de Castro Guerreiro
Rafael Sousa Santos
Cláudia Soares
Diego Beja Inglez de Souza
Key Dates
Call for papers: 1 October 2024
Call for papers’ deadline: 18 January 2025
Final selection of abstracts and notification of speakers: 28 March 2025
Registration opens: April 2025
Early-bird registration deadline: May 2025
Registration for participants deadline: June 2025
Programme launch: July 2025
Submission of final version of paper for discussion: July 2025
Final registration deadline: 31 August 2025
Conference dates: 10–13 September 2025
Rates and Registration
Standard: €175
Early bird: €150
Special student fee, including PhD candidates who will not be presenting papers: €50
The fee covers conference registration plus Thursday and Friday lunch and refreshments. Excursions are not included in the conference fee.
We are working to make a limited number of grants to cover registration and accommodation available to participants whose universities do not cover their travel costs.
Registration Terms and Conditions: All Registration must be completed on the conference official website. Participants are strongly encouraged to register as early bird to take advantage of the discounted registration fee. All registration fees are quoted in Euro (€). Payment in any other currency will not be accepted.
Payment will be available by credit card and bank transfer. Credit cards are accepted and can be made through online services on a secure server. In case of bank transfer, bank charges must be paid by the participants in addition to the registration fees (make sure to indicate the Congress name plus the full participant’s name). Invoices with an address in the European Union should be provided with a VAT Number. The invoicing address and VAT number can only be set up during the registration process.
Refund Policy: requests accepted until June 31st, 2025. The registration fee will be refunded with an administrative fee of 50 euros. There will be no reimbursement for requests made after July 1st, 2025, the registration may be used by another participant from the same institution.
Keynote 3
Porto Faculty of Architecture, 9:00—10:45
The Fluid Dynamics of the Deep:
Exploring Ocean Currents and Water Movement
Alex Fontaine, Institute for Oceanic Research, University of California, San Diego
Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating global climate, distributing heat, and supporting marine ecosystems. This study investigates the complex dynamics of subsurface currents, salinity gradients, and temperature variations that drive ocean circulation. Using satellite data, Argo float observations, and numerical simulations, we analyze major deep-water movements such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and thermohaline processes in polar regions. Our findings highlight the increasing impact of climate change on current patterns, including shifts in upwelling zones and alterations in deep-sea nutrient transport. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for predicting long-term oceanic behavior and its implications for biodiversity, fisheries, and global climate regulation.
Tides of Change: Investigating the Impact of Climate Variability on Ocean Circulation
Sophia Leclerc, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Southampton
Climate variability significantly influences oceanic circulation, altering weather patterns and marine ecosystems. This study examines how rising global temperatures and shifting atmospheric pressure systems, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), affect large-scale ocean currents. Through data collected from remote sensing, buoy networks, and climate models, we identify trends in sea surface temperature anomalies and their cascading effects on oceanic and atmospheric circulation. Our results show that warming oceans are leading to stronger stratification, reduced nutrient mixing, and changes in deep convection patterns. These alterations have profound implications for fisheries, coastal communities, and global weather predictability, emphasizing the need for improved climate adaptation strategies.
Session 9
Teste de Popup. Ver outros Popups para servirem de base
Sessions 1, 2
Porto Faculty of Architecture, 9:00—10:45
The Fluid Dynamics of the Deep:
Exploring Ocean Currents and Water Movement
Alex Fontaine, Institute for Oceanic Research, University of California, San Diego
Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating global climate, distributing heat, and supporting marine ecosystems. This study investigates the complex dynamics of subsurface currents, salinity gradients, and temperature variations that drive ocean circulation. Using satellite data, Argo float observations, and numerical simulations, we analyze major deep-water movements such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and thermohaline processes in polar regions. Our findings highlight the increasing impact of climate change on current patterns, including shifts in upwelling zones and alterations in deep-sea nutrient transport. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for predicting long-term oceanic behavior and its implications for biodiversity, fisheries, and global climate regulation.
Tides of Change: Investigating the Impact of Climate Variability on Ocean Circulation
Sophia Leclerc, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Southampton
Climate variability significantly influences oceanic circulation, altering weather patterns and marine ecosystems. This study examines how rising global temperatures and shifting atmospheric pressure systems, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), affect large-scale ocean currents. Through data collected from remote sensing, buoy networks, and climate models, we identify trends in sea surface temperature anomalies and their cascading effects on oceanic and atmospheric circulation. Our results show that warming oceans are leading to stronger stratification, reduced nutrient mixing, and changes in deep convection patterns. These alterations have profound implications for fisheries, coastal communities, and global weather predictability, emphasizing the need for improved climate adaptation strategies.
Sessions 3, 4
Porto Faculty of Architecture, 9:00—10:45
The Fluid Dynamics of the Deep:
Exploring Ocean Currents and Water Movement
Alex Fontaine, Institute for Oceanic Research, University of California, San Diego
Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating global climate, distributing heat, and supporting marine ecosystems. This study investigates the complex dynamics of subsurface currents, salinity gradients, and temperature variations that drive ocean circulation. Using satellite data, Argo float observations, and numerical simulations, we analyze major deep-water movements such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and thermohaline processes in polar regions. Our findings highlight the increasing impact of climate change on current patterns, including shifts in upwelling zones and alterations in deep-sea nutrient transport. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for predicting long-term oceanic behavior and its implications for biodiversity, fisheries, and global climate regulation.
Tides of Change: Investigating the Impact of Climate Variability on Ocean Circulation
Sophia Leclerc, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Southampton
Climate variability significantly influences oceanic circulation, altering weather patterns and marine ecosystems. This study examines how rising global temperatures and shifting atmospheric pressure systems, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), affect large-scale ocean currents. Through data collected from remote sensing, buoy networks, and climate models, we identify trends in sea surface temperature anomalies and their cascading effects on oceanic and atmospheric circulation. Our results show that warming oceans are leading to stronger stratification, reduced nutrient mixing, and changes in deep convection patterns. These alterations have profound implications for fisheries, coastal communities, and global weather predictability, emphasizing the need for improved climate adaptation strategies.
Sessions 5, 6
Porto Faculty of Architecture, 9:00—10:45
The Fluid Dynamics of the Deep:
Exploring Ocean Currents and Water Movement
Alex Fontaine, Institute for Oceanic Research, University of California, San Diego
Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating global climate, distributing heat, and supporting marine ecosystems. This study investigates the complex dynamics of subsurface currents, salinity gradients, and temperature variations that drive ocean circulation. Using satellite data, Argo float observations, and numerical simulations, we analyze major deep-water movements such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and thermohaline processes in polar regions. Our findings highlight the increasing impact of climate change on current patterns, including shifts in upwelling zones and alterations in deep-sea nutrient transport. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for predicting long-term oceanic behavior and its implications for biodiversity, fisheries, and global climate regulation.
Tides of Change: Investigating the Impact of Climate Variability on Ocean Circulation
Sophia Leclerc, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Southampton
Climate variability significantly influences oceanic circulation, altering weather patterns and marine ecosystems. This study examines how rising global temperatures and shifting atmospheric pressure systems, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), affect large-scale ocean currents. Through data collected from remote sensing, buoy networks, and climate models, we identify trends in sea surface temperature anomalies and their cascading effects on oceanic and atmospheric circulation. Our results show that warming oceans are leading to stronger stratification, reduced nutrient mixing, and changes in deep convection patterns. These alterations have profound implications for fisheries, coastal communities, and global weather predictability, emphasizing the need for improved climate adaptation strategies.