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38 results for “reefs”
- Recycling an old bridge and dead coral to restore reefsIn an attempt to restore bleaching coral reefs, initiatives make artificial reefs using an old bridge and dead coral. Coral reefs are diverse underwater…
- Wall Reef: A 3D Printed Façade Element Boosting Urban Biodiversity and Climate ResilienceIn December 2024, the Wall Reef—a 3D printed coral reef-inspired façade installation—was unveiled at the Tweespan and Vierspan residential complex in Rhoon, the Netherlands.…
- 3D Printed Purpose-Built Reefs Advance Scalable Marine RestorationIn 2025, Dutch startup Coastruction deployed three large-scale Purpose-Built Reefs (PBRs). These structures support coral growth and marine biodiversity. The project combines biomimicry, computational…
- Realistic 3D printed concrete coral reefsCalled 3D Innovareef, researchers at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand developed a ‘Lego-like’ system of 3D printed concrete modules with the aim to accelerate the…
- Urban ReefUrban Reef designs and creates open-ended habitats that encourage the growth and diversity of life in urban settings such as streetscapes, squares and buildings. The prototypes called "Reefs" are designed to integrate open systems and regenerative design into the city. Reefs are created using bio-based algorithms and are 3D printed with (living) materials.
- Coral Sonic Resilience: Sound and Sustainable Materials Revive Coral ReefsCoral Sonic Resilience is an innovative project where art, science, and material design come together to support marine restoration. Artist Marco Barotti teamed up…
- A reef made of biocementIndustrial designer Mary Lempres created a biocement reef structure grown by plants that was designed to restore natural reefs. Unlike conventional cement, the biocement…
- 3D printed terracotta ‘reef tiles’ to repopulate coral communitiesResearchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) developed specially designed 3D printed ‘reef tiles’ for attachment by corals to enhance their chance of…
- Max Latour – Urban ReefMax Latour is a computational designer and founder of Urban Reef. He studied architecture at TU Eindhoven and continued his master’s degree at TU…
- Hydrogel structures to cool coral reefsDesigner Sunny Lustov designed cooling underwater structures to safeguard coral reefs from the escalating threat of rising temperatures, made of biocompatible hydrogel. Called NEREID,…
- Urban Reef
- 3D printing rubber robot jellyfish to monitor the reefResearchers at Florida Atlantic University and the US Office of Naval Research developed soft robotic jellyfish to monitor the reefs, 3D printed from rubber.…
- A Memorial Crafted from Pet Ashes and Crushed ShellsResting Reef is pioneering a unique solution for pet memorials by combining pet ashes with crushed shells to create sustainable, underwater reef urns. The…
- Coral Crisis: Why Coral Bleaching Is a Big ProblemThe world’s coral reefs are in poor condition. A major reason for this is a process called coral bleaching whereby healthy, vibrantly coloured coral turn shockingly…
- 3D printed wave break modules made of local shell wasteAustralian multidisciplinary design company Reef Design Lab designed a series of specialised wave break modules, to prevent further erosion along the beach. Reef Design…
- What not to miss at Dutch Design Week 2022 part 2Dutch Design Week 2022 takes place from 22 to 30 October in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. MaterialDistrict lists some of the most innovative material projects…
- What not to miss at Dutch Design Week 2023 part 3Dutch Design Week 2023 takes place from 21 to 29 October in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Here, we present some of the most innovative material…
- 3D printed seawall is inspired by mangrove treesCar company Volvo partnered with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and Reef Design Lab to create a 3D printed seawall, inspired by mangrove…
- ANEMONIAANEMONIA is part of a material research inspired by the positive scientific developments within growing corals artificially, as a solution for dying reefs. The material visualises the process of growth and the movement of a sea anemone. When the material lays flat, it isn’t showing what’s below the surface. When it gets moved around it flows, as if water is running through the tentacles of an anemone, revealing its lively colour.
- Peter Vodegel – Nature restoration with biodegradable BESE-elementsWorldwide we are losing nature rapidly and billions of euros are invested in restoring degraded ecosystems. BESE developed the BESE-elements, a strong lattice structure…
- 3D Printed Concrete Innovation Captures CO₂ and Reduces Material UseResearchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a groundbreaking 3D printed concrete that not only reduces material usage but also actively captures carbon…
- Tiffany & Co.’s 3D-Printed Coral-Inspired Façade in Cancún Demonstrates Material ApplicationIn 2024, Tiffany & Co. opened a new store in Cancún, Mexico, with a 3D printed façade designed by Rotterdam-based architecture firm MVRDV. The…
- A multispecies habitat made of living treesDesign studio Terreform ONE constructed a reef-like structure that is formed using tree-grafting methods, as a ‘multispecies habitat’. Called Fab Tree Hab, the ‘terrestrial…
- Sea salt lamps inspired by the seaThe sea has long since inspired humans, and for materials it’s no different. The sea brings us seaweed and other algae, sand, fish leather,…
