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Designing for the Ocean – Reef Design Lab
Reef Design Lab develops innovative marine habitat infrastructure that helps repair and maintain ecological diversity and support coral growth.
Founded by Alex Goad in the attic of a friend’s furniture factory, Reef Design Lab has grown into a pioneering force in marine habitat infrastructure. The multidisciplinary studio designs, prototypes and manufactures unique coastal solutions, collaborating with architects, builders, governments and research institutions to investigate new ways of repairing and maintaining ecological diversity in marine environments. The studio also works with marine researchers in areas such as coastal protection, eco-engineering and coral restoration.
Together with its international research partners, Reef Design Lab is advancing ecological performance for artificial reefs and marine habitat infrastructure. Its approach blends local talent, materials and a commitment to scientific and creative thinking, reinforcing its role in global reef restoration. The team see themselves as designers for the ocean and the life it harbours, with each project carefully evaluating both ecological and social outcomes.
The studio’s design process merges the principles of ceramics and sculpture with advanced 3D technologies. By combining hand sketches with digital modelling, Reef Design Lab uses large-scale 3D printing alongside handcrafted mould fabrication, ensuring the human touch remains integral. This approach guarantees that each structure is not only functional but also visually compelling. The sculptural quality of its work reflects years of research and scientific intent focused on promoting coral growth and marine biodiversity. This dedication has earned its pieces a place in the collections of institutions such as MoMA, the Design Museum Helsinki and the National Gallery of Victoria.
Recent projects such as EMU and MARS II showcase how the studio’s approach translates into real-world applications. Installed at Clifton Springs as part of the Dell Eco Reef for the City of Greater Geelong, the EMU modules serve multiple purposes: protecting the shoreline from erosion, enhancing the marine habitat and offering a dynamic snorkelling destination. Designed to reduce wave energy, the modules create sheltered zones that encourage colonisation by marine species while allowing human interaction at varying tidal levels. The materials – including eco-blend concrete and oyster-shell aggregate – promote microorganism adhesion and support long-term ecological integration.
Crucially, the EMU project exemplifies Reef Design Lab’s radical collaboration with nature. Over time, the structures become calcified by algae, strengthening the concrete and embedding the modules deeper into the marine environment. Rather than resisting nature, the structures embrace its transformative power, offering a model for coastal infrastructure that is both protective and regenerative.
By incorporating recycled shell aggregate and biomimetic textures, these artificial reef structures encourage marine life to flourish, gradually becoming encrusted with biodiversity as they mature.
MARS II is a refined version of the studio’s original Modular Artificial Reef Structure (MARS). This new iteration optimises manufacturing and deployment, incorporating valuable feedback from researchers to improve the ecological effectiveness of coral farming applications. A key feature of MARS II is its biomimetic design, which is informed by natural reef geometries to promote coral growth. The radiating lattice structure enhances oxygen and nutrient flow, while the channelled surface texture prevents sediment accumulation, creating ideal conditions for marine colonisation.
Materiality is central to the lab’s approach. While concrete often faces criticism for its environmental impact, here it is used selectively to create durable, minimal-material structures that foster long-term ecological integration. Concrete’s coarse and porous properties naturally support marine colonisation, and as the structures become calcified by algae, the material strengthens, protecting the structure beneath. By incorporating recycled shell aggregate and biomimetic textures, these artificial reef structures encourage marine life to flourish, gradually becoming encrusted with biodiversity as they mature.
Reef Design Lab’s work highlights architecture and design’s potential to adapt to a changing climate. By reimagining how coastal protection and marine habitat structures are designed, it is creating solutions that benefit both ecological and human communities. The lab’s projects – spanning artificial reefs, living sea walls and coastal breakwaters –demonstrate that built environments can be not just sustainable but actively beneficial to the natural world. As the challenges of climate change continue to intensify, projects like EMU and MARS II offer a hopeful vision for a future where design and nature collaborate to build resilience in our coastal environments.
