Design

The 3D Printed Living Sea Defence

Way back in 2019 we shared the innovative 3D-printed shoreline-saving sea wall project of Reef Design Lab, SIMS (Sydney Institute of Marine Science), the North Sydney Council, and Volvo. This modular system of tiles is created complete with cracks and crevices to offer shelter and habitat for marine life, helping to restore biodiversity in built marine environments.

A person in a wetsuit examines a 3D-printed seawall made of modular tiles designed to mimic coral structures, submerged in shallow water.
A concrete mold for a 3D-printed sea wall tile with a textured surface designed to mimic marine habitats.

Since then, Reef Design Lab and co. have continued to spearhead eco-engineering projects by developing a range of coastal defence and protection solutions that mimic coral, form wave breaks, and provide habitats for organisms like mussels and oysters.

Four individuals in blue shirts working on a 3D-printed seawall at a beach, with one person taking notes and another examining tiles on the seawall.
A close-up view of modular 3D-printed seawall tiles designed to mimic coral structures, installed against a stone wall along a shoreline.

Their living sea-wall tiles have spread across the globe, reaching countries as far as Singapore and Gibraltar, and even to the UK where a series of panels have been installed at the edge of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. This 2 by 12m section of panels seeks to encourage limpets, barnacles, anemones, seaweeds, and sponges to take up residence.

Close-up of a textured surface resembling a coral or marine habitat, showing undulating shapes and green algae growth.
Close-up of a textured and modular seawall tile featuring green algae growth, designed to provide habitat for marine life.
A close-up view of modular 3D-printed tiles designed to mimic coral structures, featuring various textured patterns and colors to create habitats for marine life.

Designed to mitigate the negative impact caused by existing structures, seawall tiles aren’t meant to replace natural barriers such as oyster reefs, salt marsh, and mangroves, merely mimic their structures to improve biodiversity in areas already affected by human interference.

Close-up of a textured, 3D-printed seawall tile featuring uneven grooves and moss growth, designed to enhance marine biodiversity.
Two workers in safety vests examining a section of a coastal wall with 3D-printed tiles designed to enhance marine habitats, surrounded by seaweed.
3D-printed seawall tile designed to mimic coral structures, featuring textured surfaces and protruding elements for marine habitat enhancement.

The research is ongoing and installation of the tiles isn’t always successful, with tropical locations seeing greater rates of improvement than temperate ones, but it’s a movement well worth following.

Reef Design Lab
Living Seawalls

A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, August 2025.

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