ExoTiles in the SouthWest: Enhancing Coastal Infrastructure
➤ Winter 2025 ➤ Our Only World ➤ Padstow, Mavagissey
Problem
ExoTiles following manufacturing
The increasing development of ports and harbours around our coastlines typically means that natural habitats are replaced with smooth, flat and featureless concrete to protect coastal infrastructure. Unfortunately, this is replacing the natural features which we find along our coasts, reducing the amount of natural habitat for coastal species.
Solution
Teaming up with Our Only World and CubeX, Exo Engineering developed two variations of our ExoTile units: Hexagonal tiles with enhanced structural complexity. The designs featured deep grooves and ridges, boasting nearly double the surface area of a flat tile, which provides much-needed water retention and shade for coastal organisms.
Our Only World is a Not-For-Profit organisation seeking to restore ocean health through a variety of schemes, including SeAlive Tiles. This project aims to enhance the flat, smooth, sheer surfaces which dominate many of our developed coastal areas, providing much-needed structural complexity for a range of species to thrive.
One of the key installation considerations was ease of hand deployment, meaning that we had to ensure that the weight of the tiles was kept to a minimum. Collaborating with CubeX, who have developed an incredibly strong Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) blend, we were able to produce tiles which were just a few centimeters thick, whilst achieving necessary strength requirements and ease of installation.
Results
The result is an inspiring and aesthetic opportunity for nature enhancement along our coastlines which mitigates the impacts of development. Providing a broad range of habitats for coastal species, we can help to combat species loss and improve habitat connectivity in areas where we need to use hard engineering. We look forward to seeing the variety of coastal species which colonise the ExoTiles in the coming months and years!
