Recycled Sustainable 3D Printing Materials for Marine Environments

The paper discusses the design and testing of sustainable recycled materials for large scale 3D printed construction in a marine context. This research is part of a 3-phase project involving a multidisciplinary team of designers, architects, material specialists and marine ecologists. The Bio Shelters Project uses an innovative approach to designing and fabricating marine bio-shelters that ecologically enhance seawalls, by promoting native biodiversity and providing seawater filtration, carbon sequestration and fisheries productivity. The design of the 3D print structure is a data-driven approach that incorporates ecological data to optimise the form for growth and survivorship of marine species under the environmental conditions of the installation site as well as being an integral part of the design project and the site.