SEAHIVE

How beehives have inspired new coastal defences in Miami

With rising sea levels threatening over 600 million people in low-elevation coastal communities, the University of Miami's SEAHIVE project has emerged as a beacon of innovation in coastal defence. Embracing the principles of biomimicry, SEAHIVE draws inspiration from the sturdy, hexagonal architecture of beehives to confront the extreme weather events that lead to flooding.

SEAHIVE's modular design serves a dual purpose: it dissipates the power of waves during dangerous weather and allows both mangroves and coral to grow out of its holes. These structures, crafted from biophilic concrete, act as natural protective barriers for coastal defence. While mangroves and coral have long been diminished by pollution along the South Florida shoreline, SEAHIVE hopes to plant new outlets and utilise them as natural defences against the encroaching sea.

Spanning over 100 feet across Wahoo Bay, Pompano Beach the SEAHIVE installation stands as a testament to the project's ambition and its potential for ecological research. Scientists are using it to gather complex data on wave attenuation and hydrodynamic processes, aiming to refine a solution that will become scalable to coastlines worldwide. As the threat of extreme flooding grows, SEAHIVE proposes a future where data and nature harmonise, offering a sustainable fortress for coastal communities across the globe.