>>>Background
-How we build eco-friendly urban environments？
-How should we define the boundary between city and nature?
-How should we define the boundary between city and nature?
This project addresses the ecological issues of urban boundaries. The intertidal zone is the integrative boundary of land and ocean. To protect coastal cities from seawater erosion and ocean disaster, people have constructed a large scale of wave protection structures inside intertidal zones. These constructions include seawalls, breakwaters, and groins.
From an ecological perspective, these existing constructions have reduced the heterogeneity of the coastal intertidal zone, implying the destruction of the habitat of offshore marine life. Especially for certain benthic species, artificial structures provide significantly fewer amounts of the intertidal pool. Furthermore, these animals form the essential basis of the marine food chain.
I investigated the ecological status of the coastal intertidal zone of Dalian, a typical harbor city in China. Through the statistics of biodiversity, and the assessment of the condition of the habitat, I got some preliminary design principles for optimization: improve the water storage capacity of the wave protection structure.
>>>About Design Morphology
Nature often inspires our design innovations. Marine organisms have undergone millions of years of natural selection, and have developed unique strategies for survival. These include some intelligent biological structures to adapt to the complicated and changing underwater environment. By applying these bio-structures on the wave-protection structure, I attempted to experimentally design a product with a new perspective that has addressed the common needs of both humans and marine life.
>>>Research
I did research on a large number of marine species, and finally selected the phylum of the Porifera (Sponge) as the subject of my study. Under Porifera, Hexactinellida (Glass Sponge) possesses a typical skeleton structure consisting of a silicon-based spicules network with strong resistance to deformation. In this Class, the most representative species is Euplectella aspergillum, also known as Venus' basket of flowers. I analyzed its biological structure hierarchy and summarized the design principles.
More studies on Euplectella Aspergillum can be referred to the followings:
[1] Weaver J C, Aizenberg J, Fantner G E, et al. Hierarchical assembly of the siliceous skeletal lattice of the hexactinellid sponge Euplectella aspergillum[J]. Journal of structural biology, 2007, 158(1): 93-106.
[2] Weaver J C, Milliron G W, Allen P, et al. Unifying design strategies in demosponge and hexactinellid skeletal systems[J]. The Journal of Adhesion, 2010, 86(1): 72-95.
[3] Van Soest R W M, van Duyl F C, Maier C, et al. Mass occurrence of Rossella nodastrella Topsent on bathyal coral reefs of Rockall Bank, W of Ireland (Lyssacinosida, Hexactinellida)[J]. Porifera Research: Biodiversity, Innovation and Sustainability. Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, 2007: 645-652.
[4] Fernandes M C, Aizenberg J, Weaver J C, et al. Mechanically robust lattices inspired by deep-sea glass sponges[J]. Nature Materials, 2021, 20(2): 237-241.
[5] Robson Brown K, Bacheva D, Trask RS. 2019 The structural efficiency of the sea sponge Euplectella aspergillum skeleton: bio-inspiration for 3D printed architectures. J. R. Soc. Interface 16: 20180965.
>>>Design Process
I first built its skeleton structure in the software by using parametric design. By flattening this structure, extracting the unit structure, and offsetting the linear structure, a three-dimensional unit structure is obtained. On each unit, I added artificial intertidal pools or tidal power matrix modules. The material of this structure consists of a ceramic shell, filling with concrete and corrosion-resistant metal ribs. Each unit is connected by a flexible material resistant to seawater erosion.
Individual Unit
Individual Unit (Tidal Power)
The Assembly of Porifera-Bricks Structures
The Assembly of Porifera-Bricks Structures
The Render of Porifera-Bricks Structures
Functional Comparison with Tetrapods
Comparison of High Tide and Low Tide from Top View (Include Tidal Power Matrix Modules)
3D Printed Prototype & Model Assembly
Physical Demonstration Model (Photosensitive Resin, Acrylic, 304 Stainless Steel)
Physical Demonstration Model (Photosensitive Resin, Acrylic, 304 Stainless Steel)
>>>Reflection
For future development, in mechanical perspective, I can apply Finite Element Analysis to validate and optimize its structure. Also from a economic perspective, the production and assembly costs may not be competitive.
But I see my project as an experiment in design methodology. At the same time, if we examine it from a Speculative Design perspective, the outcome more inspirational rather than practical. I want to encourage the audience that in which way we can innovate when we are shaping the FUTURE.
