Credit: Peter Ian Campbell

Synthetic Biology, Speculative Design / DATE: 2023 / MA Material Futures

“Project Archipelago” proposes that we build synthetic islands across open waters to wild the seas, increasing biodiversity and biomass through a system of facilitated habitats and remote sensing. The first step is the adaptive reuse of decommissioned marine oil platforms. The North Sea hosts more than 150 rigs, many of which are nearing end of production. The current law requires their removal from the environment, however, platforms of the last century provide extensive habitats for molluscs, fish hatcheries, and deep sea Lophelia corals.

The first step in the proposal is a self-sustaining system that includes a 3D printer capable of mining plastic and shell waste, as well as sediment from the surrounding area. This waste is then used to create modular units, which are attached to the jacket legs of the platform.

This process increases the available surface area, allowing for planktonic forms of life to thrive. Over a longer period of time, the calcium carbonate structure will become a self-sustaining island and novel ecosystem.