SHIMRIT PERKOL-FINKEL
Shimrit Perkol-finkel, an Israeli marine biologist, created Econcrete to protect and rejuvenate coastlines and marine life. The low-carbon, bioenhanced concrete is custom-made for urban waterfronts, port redevelopment projects, and offshore energy platforms. Its chemical composition provides a more favorable environment for rich and diverse marine life. “I grew up diving,” Perkol-finkel says, “and I’ve also studied coastal degradation, which can happen because of overexploitation and climate change. We need to build and preserve biodiversity.” In 2018, Perkol-finkel’s material was used to revive the port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, and in the six months since it was installed, canopyforming algae has flourished. Econcrete was also employed for tide pools in New York’s Brooklyn Bridge Park, creating more hospitable habitats for algae, crabs, oysters, and other marine life. Perkol-finkel’s next project is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she’s working to revive a pier.
Reef Ridges
These protrusions, made of rocks in different sizes, extend into the ocean perpendicular to the breakwater. Spaces between them—called reef streets—modify wave behavior in the local area, which fosters diverse natural habitats more hospitable to different animal species.
Tide Pools
To promote the ocean life that gathers in tide pools, concrete blocks are carved into concave shapes that imitate a rocky shoreline. Their water-retaining features promote the growth of seaweed, algae, crabs, and fish. In the six months since they were installed at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the pools’ oxygen level has become twice as high as the surrounding area due to seaweed photosynthesis, making them an ideal habitat for flora and fauna.
Armor Unit
These customizable precast modular units have water-retaining tide pools carved into them and can be slotted alongside regular concrete. Econcrete substitutes up to 10% of the cement content of its units with Admix, a chemical formulation that reduces chloride permeability and the project’s overall CO2 footprint.
Eco Mats
Concrete mattresses are an alternative to the standard concrete systems used to stabilize construction on shorelines. They protect offshore pipelines, cables, and turbine foundations. The mats increase biodiversity by supporting plant and animal ecosystems with their shape and chemical composition, which mimics that of naturally occurring rocks.