Just lately, the World Design Group (WDO) and the UK Design Council hosted the World Design Congress (WDC) 2025 in London. The tagline for the occasion was “Design for planet,” and attendees from the worldwide design group got here collectively to speak about how they will design a greater future by tackling crucial environmental issues: reducing carbon emissions, reviving biodiversity, and making a round economic system by way of reusing waste and reimagining supplies.
One progressive idea that was offered on the occasion is Nereid, a digitally created marine habitat to assist heal marine ecosystems. The undertaking is aptly named: a nereid can both imply a sort of marine worm, or one of many 50 sea nymphs who’re daughters to the ocean god Nereus, the “Outdated Man of the Sea,” in Greek mythology.
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), in collaboration with D-Form and sponsored by the Hong Kong Science & Expertise Parks Company (HKSTP), particularly designed the habitat prototype to revive the atmosphere at Hong Kong’s North Lantau Marine Park conservation space. As ZHA put it, this undertaking, and a number of other others it delivered to the WDC, exhibit “design as an efficient catalyst for ecological resilience.”
Christos Passas, Design Director, Zaha Hadid Architects, mentioned, “Pushed by a deep understanding of the necessities wanted to help native ecosystems, this prototype is a part of a wider strategy developed in collaboration with companions in progressive applied sciences to analysis and progress initiatives that improve environmental sustainability.”
3D printing has been used many occasions to assist with marine ecosystem conservation efforts, from making coral reefs, seawalls, and barnacles to cultivated seafood, or just elevating consciousness. For his or her Nereid undertaking, ZHA and D-Form wished to handle local weather change, land reclamation, marine air pollution, and urbanization. So that they reached out to marine physiologist and toxicologist Professor James Fang from Hong Kong Polytechnic College, whose analysis promotes seafood sustainability and ocean well being.
The prototype habitat focuses particularly on growing marine biodiversity. It options some distinctive restorative and hydrodynamic benefits that can encourage pure regeneration of coastal ecosystems, and particularly their meals assets, with a deal with fostering the expansion of filter-feeding shellfish and phytoplankton.
“Nereid demonstrates large-scale 3D printing can help the regeneration of marine ecosystems,” mentioned Mario Nuzzolese, Director, D-Form. “By opening our know-how to companions, we’re turning daring concepts into habitats the place nature and innovation thrive.”
D-Form is one in every of 2,400 tech corporations inside the ecosystem of HKSTP, an award-winning incubator that nurtures corporations to drive options for a greater future. The Nereid initiative suits proper in with its mission to foster innovation and restore the area’s marine habitats.
Hilda Chan, Chief Advertising and marketing Officer of HKSTP, mentioned, “The collaboration highlights the visionary design of Zaha Hadid Architects, the ingenuity of D-Form, and our dedication to progressive options for environmental challenges.”
Utilizing its large-scale 3D printing know-how, D-Form produced biomimetic buildings that replicate the feel and porosity of pure reefs. The varieties had been made utilizing pH-neutral components in a low-carbon concrete combination that’s secure for marine environments. ZHA defined that the “design emulates the geometries of benthic methods akin to kelp forests,” so the fish might be extra interested in the construction.
Rendering courtesy of ZHA
Synthetic reefs are immensely useful in the case of bettering marine biodiversity. The concept is that Nereid, as soon as previous the prototyping section, will be capable of create regenerative marine infrastructure that may act as a protecting barrier in opposition to actions, like fishermen trawling the underside of the seabed, that would hurt the ecosystem. It might even contribute to ongoing marine habitat restoration efforts that help the repopulation of the critically endangered Chinese language White Dolphin, affectionately known as the Hong Kong Pink Dolphin.
This initiative is a superb instance of how collaboration and inventive design can actually assist deal with the problems that threaten our planet.
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