R E S TO R I N G THE REEFS T
he ‘vertical city’ of Hong Kong – concrete jungle and land of skyscrapers - may not be known for its natural biodiversity, but did you know that the city’s shores boast more hard species of coral than the Caribbean? Worldwide, coral reefs host over 25 percent of marine life, yet cover just one percent of the sea floor. This number is depleting, as coral is worn away and is now greatly endangered by the effects of pollution and climate change. 12 | APAC Outlook issue 55
In what the UN has labelled the ‘Decade of Ecosystem Restoration’, archiREEF is the innovative start-up using 3D printing to revitalise coral reefs. We take a deep dive into the company with co-founder, Vriko Yu Writer: Phoebe Harper
At the nexus of coral reef development in Hong Kong is the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. The park has become the playground of innovative Hong Kong born start-up, archiREEF, the company using 3D printing to restore and conserve coral reefs using the world’s first clay reef tiles. Printed in clay to mimic ‘brain coral’, the material is both highly adaptive, earth-friendly and has proven effective in attracting and encouraging marine life. “Growing up in Hong Kong is
