Regenerative Ocean Farming: Aquaculture Revitalization

Community and Research Center for Aquaculture: Space for Gathering, Harvesting, Learning, and Resting

Once a thriving sugar industry hub, the Central Aguirre Historic District in Puerto Rico now stands as a quiet remnant of its past. This project explores regenerative ocean farming as a strategy to revitalize the community and its aquaculture, fostering resilience for the island.

Focusing on an area that neighbors a local seafood trading post—the proposal reimagines the site with kelp as a key resource. Through the ocean farming models offered by GreenWave and the Nature Conservancy in Belize, aquaculture beyond fishing can be imagined. Offering opportunities for food security and the development of sustainable building materials, the proposed community and research center would serve as a space for collaboration. Fishermen, ocean farmers, and researchers would be able to gather to strengthen Aguirre’s economy, food independence, and identity.

The exhibited pieces include renders of the envisioned center alongside diagrams of two ocean farming models, hoping to start a dialogue around how food and natural resources can shape architectural interventions in post-industrial landscapes.

This project was exhibited at the “Rural Futures Summit,” hosted by MIT.