Walk on Water

Design Problem

The challenge was to design and build a pair of floating footwear that enabled students to 'walk on water.'

The Event

Architecture, interior architecture, and landscape architecture students enrolled in Professor Jaime Canaves’ Materials & Methods of Construction course participated in Walk on Water as a class assignment. Students from other universities were sometimes invited to join. FIU students competed for scholarships, with $1,000 awarded to the team or participant who crossed the finish line fastest without falling into the water.

The Rules

Over the years, the competition followed a set of rules that balanced creativity, functionality, and safety:

1. Foot gear are to be designed, constructed & piloted by the participant or teammate.
2. Forward motion needs to be as similar to the act of walking as possible. No other power source is acceptable.
3. Mechanical devices or attachments will be acceptable to assist in traction, but not to generate power.
4. Attachments for balance can be provided as long as they are part of the foot gear.
5. Functionality, creativity, aesthetics, craftsmanship and economics will be considered in the criteria.
6. Shoes must be attached to feet.
7. No sails or helium balloons.
8. Shoes cannot have metal, sharp edges, or any material that creates a safety hazard.
9. All Styrofoam or similar materials must be covered or protected against breakage.