The Holcim Awards prize-winning project demonstrates a sustainable way to preserve maritime biodiversity and increase living quality for local residents. The Concrete substrates for accelerated coral restoration project designed by Lemuel Alfeche and Ronald Rodriguez from the Philippines addresses the problem of degraded coral reefs. Destructive fishing practices, pollution and other damage together with climate change are severely impacting the coral reefs. Marine biodiversity and fish stocks have dwindled causing significant impacts not only on the oceans, but also on local communities who rely on fishing for food and economic development.

The project designers found that concrete is an ideal material not only for making the framework strong and resistant to the elements, but also due to its low acidity which favors accelerated coral growth. The young corals can therefore be soon harvested and successfully transplanted to other areas. The concrete structures can be adjusted to optimize their placement in terms of access to light and avoiding strong currents. Its shape, with the eight elongated legs is reminiscent of a starfish, Acanthaster plancii, from which the Acanthasia project takes its name.

The “concrete starfish” was first introduced in early-2000 at Duka Bay in the Southern Philippines – thus beginning a meticulous data gathering process to document the coral’s development. The project received the Holcim Awards Silver for the region Asia Pacific in 2005 and was praised for addressing not only ecological issues but also considering economic feasibility, social benefits and transferability to other sites.

“Sustainability beneath the surface”

In honor of the annual conference of Nobel laureates on the shores of Lake Constance at Lindau in Germany, a series of scientific presentations under the theme of Discoveries 2009 – Water is currently exhibited on the island of Mainau. The exhibition consists of 20 pavilions of scientific experiments, simulations and exciting displays demonstrating what science contributes to addressing the challenges of humanity. The Holcim Foundation is hosting one of the pavilions by featuring the Acanthasia project and describing in detail the importance of science in sustainable construction and developing an innovative solution to support coral regeneration.

Internationally-renowned architect, member of the Holcim Foundation Management Board, and professor at ETH Zurich Marc Angélil, stated that sustainable construction uses the technical competencies of science to address the challenges of today. “It is a great opportunity to show that sustainable thinking in construction can incorporate all areas of life – even what lies beneath the surface of the ocean”, he said.

Promoting sustainable construction

Chairman of the Holcim Foundation Management Board and CEO of Holcim Ltd, Markus Akermann, explained that the exhibition was an opportunity to illustrate the diverse pathways toward sustainable development. “We want to promote sustainable responses to the technological, environmental, and socioeconomic issues affecting building and construction. Participating in Discovery 2009 – Water presents the theme of sustainable construction in a new dimension through an exciting project that is contributing to the restoring precious coral reefs”, he said.