Earth psychosomatically shrinks with each passing technological feat as persons and thoughts, continents apart, relay information with coherent conversation. Advances in satellite uplink speed, signal coverage, transportation methodologies, et cetera culminates a planet whose habitats, when distance is measured in time, no longer appear as weeks apart, but only a few hours worth of travel. Population continues to rise while Earth slowly wilts from the human_s stampeding footprint. In the context of humanity's relatively brief existence, number of trees is fewer nowadays than ever recorded. Atmospheric carbon parts per million is at an all-time high. Habitable land slowly dwindles along coasts as sea levels continue to rise. Evidence of climate change and studies on the depletion of the ozone layer forebode a grim future for surface dwelling. As humanity continues to expand, the given density of continents can only rise, resulting in hubris and apocalyptical outcomes lest stagnation occurs. While natural disasters and war may cull population rates and expansion, another solution exists within the duration before extrasolar expansion: subaqueous habitation. Oceans compromise over 71% of Earth_s surface, meaning expanding settlements into the deep blue more than triples habitable land. Natural disasters, such as tornadoes, meteorites, electrical storms, drought, heavy snowfall, wildfire, nuclear detonation, haboobs, and surface burning lessen in their hazardous effect with the absence of land. Other present disasters, including hurricanes, submerged volcanoes, torrential currents, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, death stranding, and pollution dictate the concepts building design must adhere in order to create habitable living. Furthermore, the effects which sensory deprivation (namely from the absence of light and wide-open spaces) have on inhabitants must be remedied through fabricated scenarios. These may include Virtual Reality, and artificial islands. In terms of expansion, design then must decide whether to unction as a grouping of pods, or a single society a la L_Unite d_habitation. Submersible vehicles may be used to travel from one structure to another, gather resources, and function similarly to vehicles on preset roads. This opens up the possibility of multiple underwater cities, and pathing networks spanning inbetween continents. In the far future, vehicles may be designed for traversing land and underwater terrain. In sum, the highly unexplored ocean provides alleviation to Earth_s near-distant carrying capacity until mankind undergoes planetary exodus. / 0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu