coral reef cooling project employs heat-absorbant underwater structures made of hydrogel

Sunny Lustov’s ‘Nereids’ addresses ocean temperature rise

Sunny Lustov presents Nereids: Underwater Structures for Coral Reef Cooling, a project that intersects science and design to combat the pressing issue of ocean temperature escalation. Following careful programming of material responses, the designer fabricates autonomous, plant-like structures programmed to counter warming threats on coral reefs. Crafted from a thermoresponsive biocompatible hydrogel called ‘NIPA’, the underwater structures autonomously cool at-risk coral areas. Serving as protective sanctuaries, Nereids can fuse with their environment, safeguarding coral ecosystems effectively and enduringly.

film still from ‘Nereids by Sunny Lustov’ | all images courtesy of Sunny Lustov

shape-morphing underwater structures form cooling vessels

The underwater formations leverage the intrinsic qualities of their materials. Composed of NIPA gel, these structures engage a phase change process akin to ice, absorbing heat, and undergoing whitening and shrinkage. Unlike ice, NIPA gel maintains its form as a coherent sheet post-transition. This feature enables repeated activation for heat absorption with minor temperature shifts. This phase change enables the Nereids to synergistically employ two cooling mechanisms. Firstly, the gel itself cools, each gram of NIPA can cool 10 grams of water by up to 1 degree Celsius. Secondly, leveraging the gel’s transformative nature, the designer fabricates structures that can fold and encapsulate water within the gel sheets during each phase change, augmenting cooling potential via responsive geometry. While open in normal temperatures, the formations contract and fold during heat, forming a cooling vessel that stabilizes temperatures over extended periods.

the plant-like structures are programmed to counter warming threats on coral reefs

the design process aims for an optimal base unit, meticulously tailored to bring the nereid into being

the Nereids, installed in hot ocean currents paths, form underwater forests that provide local cooling of hot streams

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careful deliberation was given to the possible performances of various optional base units when subjected to water

the selected optimal base units were designed to be assembled one on top of the other, increasing the number of cooling vessels formed

the design took advantage of the inherent heat-absorbing property of the NIPA gel amplifying the cooling effect

each Nereid can be anchored to the ocean floor using conventional ecological mooring methods

the project intersects science and design to combat the pressing issue of ocean temperature escalation

project info:

name: Nereids: Underwater structures for coral reef cooling
designer: Sunny Lustov

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom