WATER+

The Faculty of Architecture hosted a symposium – WATER+ – on February 25^th to 27^th, 2016. The symposium addressed the idea of working with water instead of against it – by design. Beginning on Thursday evening, noted environmental activist and author Maude Barlow, led off with a clarion call to place water and planetary well being on the top of our list of priorities. Over two days, and with over 250 registered participants, we examined the emerging relationships between human and natural systems with specific reference to water as an activating agent. We invited academics, artists, designers, engineers, environmental scientists, geographers, planners, social scientists, and activists to address water and the built environment. With 6 keynote speaker lectures and 9 paper and project presentations we explored new forms for living, working and playing with water through the intersecting themes of Design, Community, Ecology, and Economy. Highlights were many including the winning international competition entry and installation of a large-scale sculpture titled Envelop by a group of University of Texas (Austin) interior design students.

Envelop, Trans-Plan 2016:Water+ International Student Design Competition
photo credit: Vincent Tang

Brandy OReilly