We are AAVS Taiwan: Urbanity from the Ocean — a research and design initiative that reimagines the city from the perspective of the sea. At the heart of our work lies a simple yet profound question: what if we viewed urbanity not as a phenomenon rooted solely in land, but as one shaped by the ocean’s rhythms, resources, and histories?

In Taiwan and across coastal East Asia, the development of cities has always been deeply entangled with maritime trade, coastal ecologies, and oceanic infrastructures. From the early port economies fueled by sugar and tea to the contemporary geopolitics of microchips and seabed minerals, the sea has continuously defined economic flows and urban forms. Yet, conventional urbanism often overlooks this oceanic foundation. We seek to change that.

Our work intersects multiple domains: urban economy, as shaped by historical and emerging maritime industries; marine ecology and conservation, recognizing the ocean as a living system under threat; renewable energy, exploring the sea’s role in powering a sustainable future; and cultural conservation, uncovering the layered histories and identities tied to coastal landscapes and seafaring traditions.

In an era defined by climate change, resource scarcity, and shifting global alliances, we believe cities can no longer be studied in isolation from the oceans that sustain them. Through interdisciplinary research, speculative design, and critical inquiry, we trace the currents that connect urban development to the sea — economically, ecologically, and culturally.

We are a collective of thinkers, designers, and researchers seeking to shift the lens of urbanism. By understanding cities through the ocean, we aim to reveal new possibilities for sustainable, just, and resilient urban futures.