Reefscape

Idea projektu

The concept for this project emerges directly from its location, El Quseir, a coastal city once vital to Egypt’s economy and maritime trade. Over time, its significance diminished, and in recent years, the city began to rely heavily on diving tourism as a new source of livelihood. However, even this emerging lifeline is now under threat due to the widespread coral bleaching affecting the Red Sea’s reefs.

Recognizing the urgency of this environmental crisis, we grounded our design process in a deep understanding of coral bleaching, its causes, impacts, and potential solutions. This project aims not only to respond to the ecological degradation of the marine ecosystem but also to reimagine architecture as an active agent in restoring both natural and human communities. Through this integration, the project aspires to revive El Quseir’s identity while offering a resilient, future-facing model for coastal development.

Popis projektu

The project is organized into three main zones, each responding to a different user group while collectively addressing the ecological crisis of coral bleaching in the Red Sea.

1. Diving Center
This area serves as the public’s main point of interaction. It offers diving equipment rentals, training sessions, and environmental awareness classes. These classes focus on responsible diving practices—teaching visitors how to engage with the marine environment without causing harm. Gathering points and briefing spaces create a social hub for divers before and after their experiences, reinforcing the connection between human activity and marine conservation.

2. Marine Gallery
The gallery acts as an educational and observational space where the public can explore the region’s rich marine biodiversity. Through immersive exhibits and live coral displays, visitors are introduced to ongoing coral treatment processes and the fragile ecosystems beneath the surface. The gallery also includes interactive zones that allow guests to engage with aspects of coral rehabilitation, encouraging a sense of stewardship.

3. Research Facilities
The project includes specialized research spaces for marine scientists and environmentalists. These include laboratories, seminar rooms, and algae cultivation pools. Scientists use these facilities to monitor coral health, experiment with symbiotic algae treatments, and track the effectiveness of reef restoration efforts. The integration of public and research domains ensures a transparent and educational approach to conservation.

Architectural Integration with Nature
The structure is composed of multiple separated platforms carefully spaced to allow sunlight to penetrate through to the seabed. This ensures that coral habitats receive the optimal light exposure needed for growth, without risking overexposure that could trigger further bleaching. The open arrangement of the platforms supports both ecological performance and architectural fluidity, aligning built form with marine rhythms.

Technické informace

Coral Rehabilitation Process
A net-based collection system is suspended from the floating platforms and gently anchored to pits on the seabed. These nets capture coral fragments that are naturally carried by the tides. Once collected, the nets are lifted to the platform level where the fragments are sorted by trained personnel.

Recovered fragments are then inserted into perforated, 3D-printed calcium carbonate spheres, which act as substrates for coral regrowth. These biomimetic spheres are designed to encourage coral attachment and mimic natural reef textures. The coral-seeded spheres are placed into a vertical conveyor-like track system, which gradually lowers them into algae pools.

These pools are concentrated with heat-resistant symbiotic algae, which coat the coral fragments, enhancing their thermal tolerance. This algae treatment allows the corals to better withstand future temperature rises due to climate change. Once fully treated, the coral units are slowly reintroduced into the sea. Natural ocean currents distribute the restored coral fragments, enabling them to merge with and enhance the resilience of existing reef ecosystems.

Floating Structural System
The entire structure is buoyant, supported by square frustums (inverted pyramid-like forms) submerged underwater. These frustums are engineered to create optimal buoyancy by balancing dead loads and live loads against the displaced water volume. The system ensures a stable upward force that allows the building to float securely.

Each frustum is tethered by tension cables that terminate in angled piles embedded into the seabed. These piles are arranged like a tripod to provide lateral and vertical stability, preventing sway and minimizing movement due to currents or wind. The result is a resilient floating structure that harmonizes with the marine environment without the need for mechanical systems.

Dokumentace

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