ExoRock: Bespoke Dogwhelk Shell
➤ Summer 2025 ➤ Research & Development
Problem
Along our coastline, natural habitats such as rockpools are being lost as we attempt to protect vulnerable coastal communities against erosion and flooding. The hard engineering solutions we use are leading to a phenomenon known as coastal squeeze, where species become trapped between rising sea levels and our coastal defence structures.
Solution
Exo Engineering are constantly looking for new ways to combat habitat loss along our coastlines. This is when we saw an opportunity to turn a dogwhelk shell into a rockpool which retains water and supports intertidal species most at risk as a result of coastal squeeze.
We began by 3D scanning the shell with a high-resolution 3D scanner, before scaling up the size of the design and recreating the shell in low carbon concrete. In this way, we can replicate natural features and scale designs to be the perfect weight for specific developments to maximise the benefits for nature.
Results
A new addition to the ExoRock family!
Bespoke design offers us incredible opportunities to make space for nature along our coastlines. Placing nature at the centre of our coastal engineering design means that we can achieve our own goals whilst considering the impacts on the coastal species we share these spaces with. Not only this, but we can involve local communities within the design process and ensure that our coastal defence solutions fit the character of a local area
