TETRA Reefscape.
Sustainable Concrete Alternative for Artificial Reef Structures
Final Year Project
Designed by Samuel Roberts
For my capstone project for UC, I am developing a sustainable concrete for artificial reef structures.
Portland cement production is responsible for a large chunk of the globe's carbon emissions and is accelerating climate change. I have decided to tackle this issue by using seaweed is a cement substitute in the production of concrete. This material will then be used to develop a modular artificial reef system that helps promote coral development as well as awareness of sustainable biomimetic design.
Sketches and Initial Ideation
Prototyping and Material Testing
Final CAD Design and Renders
FINAL PROTOTYPE
TETRA Reefscape is a modular artificial reef system designed to provide stable coral-like structures for coral rehabilitation in areas where they are unable to grow. TETRA is bio-mimetically designed off of submassive coral reefs, as well as being modular and customisable. The 2D reef segments are cast out of a seaweed-concrete mix, and deployed and assembled underwater using simple slot joints to create unique and attractive reef displays. TETRA looks to not only provide sanctuaries for coral and other marine life, but also exists as an interactive installation that raises awareness of climate change and the destruction of one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Hossein Najaf Zadeh for his knowledge and guidance with supervising this project.
I would like to thank the University of Canterbury technicians for their time and technical support.
I would also like to finally thank my peers at the School of Product Design for their advice and support.
