dessalles

Things Magazine points us to photos from the International Aquatic Plant Layout Contest 2007 - where the world’s premier aquascapers whipped out their algae-green thumbs in a show of sub-aqueous beauty. In short, it’s Ikebana for dorks. Sim City for horticulturally inclined pH geeks. I love it.

Short of sweet-talking some UAE oil sheikhs into funding the construction of a desert gateway, aquascaping is probably the closest I could get to designing a city populated by actual living things. Sure, I could find some uninhabited swath of land and start my own settlement, but that would entail way too much plowing.

I wonder if these aquascapers are attuned to concerns similar to those of their above-ground, urban planning counterparts. What of wayfinding, zoning and public space? Who’s looking after the sidewalks? And what of urban decay, algae? Or is this just a superficial meetup of iconic aquatects who care nothing for usability? Where are the pisceists? Who’s thinking of the fish, man? Lives are at stake!

Sorry. But seriously, how do they judge these things? Do they poll the fish? Gross Aquarium Happiness? What really makes a good tank? Are judges scoring on socio-economic balance or are they only looking for handsome skylines?

Unfortunately if I got an aquarium, the maglev would probably kill all the fish - but I’m sure the deaths would be quick.

[all photos from Aqua Forest Aquarium]