Marc García-Durán Huet, founder of Underwater Gardens, is pioneering efforts in marine conservation through innovative designs that restore underwater ecosystems. By merging parametric design with ecological insights, his team crafts smart reefs that adapt to local environments, promoting biodiversity and combating the impact of climate change. These tailored underwater landscapes not only regenerate marine life but also create sustainable models for future ocean conservation initiatives.
From Passion to Purpose: A Journey in Marine Conservation
Marc García-Durán Huet’s journey into marine conservation began with a deep fascination for the ocean, inspired by the works of Jacques Cousteau and a lifelong passion for underwater ecosystems. However, it wasn’t just his love for the ocean that led him to this path - it was his architectural training and an early exposure to parametric design that shaped his innovative approach.
“Parametric design has been a core part of my work since I was 17, during a summer studio program at Harvard. I realized that by allowing nature to inform solutions, we could mimic the way ecosystems work and thrive,” says Marc, reflecting on the beginnings of his journey into biomimetic design. By studying how natural ecosystems construct efficient, adaptive solutions through the dynamic interplay of form, energy, and matter, he began to grasp the potential for applying these principles to human-made environments.
In 2016, he founded Underwater Gardens International with a bold vision to create tailored environments that promote biodiversity and restore vital ecosystem services in coastal regions. His mission extends beyond merely restoring marine ecosystems; he aims to shift public perception, encouraging communities to move from passive beneficiaries of the ocean to proactive stewards.
We are the gardeners of the sea, promoting biodiversity and advancing a regenerative model for marine ecosystems.
Marc García-Durán Huet, Founder of Underwater Gardens International
A Scientific Approach to Ecological Design
Underwater Gardens’ innovative approach emphasizes collaboration among various disciplines to create solutions that reflect the complexities of natural ecosystems. This commitment to teamwork enables them to address intricate ecological challenges and work towards a sustainable future for our oceans.
We have scientists, architects, engineers, and designers all working together. The designs are not driven by human creativity alone but are shaped by the specific ecological data we gather from each site.
Marc García-Durán Huet
At the heart of their innovative approach is Reefhopper®, a sophisticated software platform that employs advanced parametric modeling to design Smart Enhanced Reefs (SER®). This powerful tool allows the team to meticulously map and understand the biotic assemblages that form underwater ecosystems, taking into account critical factors such as soil composition and the presence of suspension feeders like corals and sponges. By integrating this comprehensive ecological data, Reefhopper informs the design of reefs that effectively attract marine wildlife and promote biodiversity, ultimately contributing to healthier and more resilient ocean ecosystems.
Creating Innovative Reef Designs
Crafted from eco-friendly materials - including concrete, geopolymers, and calcium carbonate-based agglomerates - these Smart Enhanced Reefs weigh between 1.2 and 1.6 tons. Once anchored to the seafloor, they provide vital habitats for marine organisms. Their designs feature complex shapes that mimic the natural refuges and dynamics found in various marine habitats, enhancing natural regenerative processes. They adapt to local conditions, reefs in the Mediterranean Sea having different parameters than those in the Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef.
This multidisciplinary approach has led to five pilot projects in Norway, Denmark, Israel, Catalonia, and the Canary Islands, each tailored to the unique ecological needs of the region. The data gathered from these projects feeds into Reefhopper, building a growing catalog of designs for different ecozones and advancing the field of underwater landscaping. In this way, Underwater Gardens not only addresses immediate ecological challenges but also contributes to a broader understanding of marine ecosystems. As they implement these pilot projects, they collect invaluable data that enhances future designs and reinforces the importance of evidence-based approaches in environmental conservation.
Each design incorporates data about local species, larvae, and environmental conditions, ensuring that the reefs support life in a way that is both natural and sustainable.
Marc García-Durán Huet
Fostering Creativity with Design Rights
Initially, Marc was hesitant to protect his designs, preferring to keep them under the radar. However, as his projects garnered significant attention and were showcased at high-profile events like the America’s Cup, he recognized the necessity of safeguarding the intellectual property of Underwater Gardens to maintain a competitive edge.
To navigate this new terrain, Marc consulted his attorney, Ignasi Espiell, from Volart Pons, who recommended utilizing The Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs. This system, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, offers a streamlined process for securing design rights across more than 90 countries. It provides a cost-effective means of protecting creations globally, eliminating the financial burden of defending designs in multiple jurisdictions while ensuring they remain safeguarded against exploitation.
The designs of Underwater Gardens’ artificial reefs are the fruit of significant resources invested in scientific and creative development, and third parties cannot be allowed to take advantage of these creations with impunity. The protection of intellectual property in general, and of industrial designs in particular, has always been a priority for the company, as it is one of the most effective tools to maintain differentiation from the competition.
Ignasi Espiell, engineer and attorney specializing in patent registration and defense at Volart Pons
Encouraging Responsible Innovation
Today, Underwater Gardens holds two active Hague registrations covering three designs, underscoring their commitment to comprehensive design protection. This approach not only fosters innovation by creating a secure environment for the company to invest time and resources into developing new ideas without fear of imitation, but it also ensures that they can fully benefit from their innovations.
This proactive approach to design protection not only benefits Underwater Gardens directly but also advances marine conservation by establishing a standard for responsible innovation. By protecting their innovations, Underwater Gardens encourages other organizations to prioritize sustainability and ecological responsibility in their projects, creating a ripple effect throughout the industry.
In the face of growing environmental challenges, this commitment to innovation and collaboration is crucial in fostering a collective effort towards marine conservation and sustainability. As more entities recognize the importance of ecological stewardship, the vision for healthier oceans becomes increasingly attainable.
About the Hague System
WIPO’s Hague System provides a unique international mechanism for securing and managing design rights simultaneously in multiple countries or regions through one application, in one language with one set of fees.
Find out more
- Hague System Digital Information Kit
- How the Hague System works
- Filing international applications
- Managing international registrations
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