OCEAN Architecture | Environment is an experimental practice at the intersection between architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. The practice is part of the OCEAN network and is directed by Michael U. Hensel and Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel.
About OCEAN
OCEAN net emerged in 1994 in London as a collaborative and interdisciplinary network practice that focused on experimental design in architecture and urban design. The practice engaged in pioneering research-based experimental design and design computation at higher levels of complexity. From 1998 to 2008 the practice operated under the name OCEAN NORTH. During this time the practice produced numerous iconic works, including the World Center for Human Concerns. Works of OCEAN are included in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress in the United States and the FRAC Centre in Orléans, France, and numerous high-profile venues. From 2008 to 2018 OCEAN operated as OCEAN Design Research Association, a not-for-profit association conducting inter- and transdisciplinary research by design across the creative disciplines. During this 10-year period the association developed a significant research and scientific publication portfolio and influential approaches to systems-oriented and performance-oriented design. In 2018 the practice OCEAN Architecture | Environment was launched by Michael U. Hensel and Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel. OCEAN net was relaunched in 2020 as a network practice following the original structure and mission of OCEAN.
MISSION OF OCEAN A|E
OCEAN Architecture | Environment undertakes research and design at the intersection between architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, engineering ecology, and advanced design computation. Our mission is to fuse architecture with the natural environment with focus on support and enhancement of nature and human well-being. Our novel data-driven and computational design methods and decision support systems are powered by information models that enable inspiring solutions for everyday life and architecture. Our target groups include public and private clients and we provide consultancy for other practices. OCEAN A|E is a partner in the LamoLab Research Center in Toscany, Italy, focused on analyzing productive landscapes. This research serves to develop models for sustainable urban and periurban environments.
PARTNERS
Michael U. Hensel (Dip. Ing. Grad Dip Des AA PhD) is a practicing architect registered in the German Chamber of Architects and member of the Association of German Architects. In 1994 he co-founded the pioneering practice OCEAN and he is partner in OCEAN net and OCEAN Architecture | Environment. He is steering board member of the LamoLab Research Center in Tuscany, Italy, and series editor of the Designing Environments book series by Springer Nature. He is full professor at Vienna University of Technology where he heads the department for Digital Architecture and Planning. Previously, he taught at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, the Berlage Institute Amsterdam, the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Technical University in Munich, Rice University in Houston, and Sydney University of Technology. He was director of the Research Centre for Architecture and Tectonics in Oslo, innovation fellow at the University of Sydney, and honorary fellow of the Institute of Advanced Studies at the Technical University in Munich.
Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel (BA Hons AA Dip MSc EmTech PhD) is a trained architect and partner in the practices OCEAN net and OCEAN Architecture | Environment. She is Associate Professor for Urban Ecology and Landscape Architecture at Southeast University in Nanjing, China, and senior researcher at Technical University Munich. She is a series editor of the Springer Nature book series Designing Environments, and coordinating manager and board member of the LamoLab Research Centre in Tuscany, Italy. The work addresses urbanisation and related environmental challenges through hybrid land use, hybrid architectural typologies, advanced design, and construction. The work focuses on design methodology and data-driven design along an interdisciplinary approach that integrates architecture, landscape architecture and urban design within a social—ecological systems framework. Previously she taught at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Technical University in Munich, Vienna University of Technology, and University of Technology Sydney where she was innovation fellow.
CURRENT MEMBERS OF OCEAN
OCEAN Architecture | Environment (2018-present): Michael Hensel & Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel
OCEAN net (2020-present): Christina Doumpioti, Michael Hensel, Pavel Hladik, Matteo Lomaglio, Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel, Jeffrey P. Turko
PAST MEMBERS OF OCEAN
Founding members of OCEAN net (1994): Michael U. Hensel, Ulrich Königs, Tom Verebes, Bostjan Vuga.
OCEAN NORTH (1998-2000): Johan Bettum, Kim Baumann Larsen, Michael U. Hensel, Markus Holmstén, Bonsak Schildrop, Birger Sevaldson, Kivi Sotamaa.
OCEAN NORTH (2000-04): Michael U. Hensel, Birger Sevaldson, Kivi Sotamaa, Tuuli Sotamaa
OCEAN NORTH (2004-08): Natasha Barrett, Daniel Coll i Capdevila, Andrea di Stefano, Yasha Grobman, Michael U. Hensel, Pavel Hladik, Aleksandra Jaeschke, Steinar Killi, Toni Kotnik, Achim Menges, Eva Menges, Charles Rice, Birger Sevaldson, Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel, Jeffrey Turko.
OCEAN Design Research Association (2008-18): Natasha Barrett, Daniel Coll i Capdevila, Salmaan Craig, Christina Doumpioti, Hulya Ertas, Yasha Grobman, Michael U. Hensel, Pavel Hladik, Peter Hayward Jones, Steinar Killi, Toni Kotnik, Sofia Martins da Cunha, Andrew Morrison, Fredrik Nilsson, Janne Beate Reitan, Christoper Robeller, Alex Ryan, Birger Sevaldson, Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel, Søren Sørensen, Jeffrey Turko, Joakim Wiig Hoen.
Honorary Members of OCEAN Design Research Association (2008-18): Prof. Dr. Ipek Akpinar, Prof. Dr. Tevfik Balcioğlu, Prof. Dr. Anne Beim, Prof. Mark Burry, Prof. Dr. Derek Clements-Croome, Prof. Dr. Jolly Monge, Prof. Dr. David Leatherbarrow, Dr. Harold G. Nelson, Prof. Dr. Julian Vincent.