A groundbreaking underwater sculpture park, designed to foster marine life and protect coastlines, has officially launched off the coast of Miami Beach. The ambitious REEFLINE project, a visionary fusion of art, science, and conservation, introduces “Concrete Coral Miami,” the inaugural installation featuring 22 life-sized car sculptures submerged 20 feet below the ocean’s surface. This innovative initiative aims to transform symbols of urban congestion into vibrant habitats for coral and marine biodiversity, positioning Miami as a leader in eco-tourism and ecological innovation, specifically with the innovative Concrete Coral Miami.
A Vision Beneath the Waves: The Genesis of REEFLINE
The REEFLINE project was conceived by cultural placemaker Ximena Caminos, with a master plan developed by the renowned architecture firm OMA, led by Shohei Shigematsu. The core idea is to create a seven-mile-long underwater corridor along Miami Beach, comprising a series of artistic installations that also function as hybrid coral reefs. This ambitious undertaking seeks to address pressing environmental challenges, including the degradation of marine ecosystems and the increasing vulnerability of coastal cities to climate change impacts like sea level rise and storm surges. The project is funded partly by a $5 million bond approved by Miami Beach voters in 2022, alongside other significant grants and private funding, with a long-term goal of raising $40 million to fully realize its vision for Concrete Coral Miami and beyond.
Historically, Miami Beach once possessed a thriving offshore coral reef that was largely lost due to sand replenishment projects and other human activities, leaving the coastline more exposed. REEFLINE aims to “renew and re-create what used to be there,” as stated by Colin Foord, Director of Science for REEFLINE and co-founder of Coral Morphologic. By creating artificial structures specifically designed to support marine life, the project seeks to accelerate the formation of coral reef ecosystems and attract biodiversity, serving as a critical element in marine restoration efforts.
“Concrete Coral Miami”: Art as an Engine for Ecological Revival
The debut installation, “Concrete Coral Miami,” is the brainchild of internationally acclaimed Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich. It features 22 life-sized cars made of marine-grade concrete, arranged in a surreal underwater “traffic jam” approximately 780 feet offshore and 20 feet below the surface. Erlich’s work offers a powerful statement, transforming symbols of urban congestion and environmental pollution into foundational structures for marine life, contributing to the creation of artificial reefs. “The cars… have the perfect morphology to plant corals,” explains Caminos, highlighting the ingenious design where these sculptures act as “flowerpots for corals” in this Concrete Coral Miami project.
This artistic intervention is not merely aesthetic; it is deeply scientific. The concrete cars are designed with innovative insets and utilize Coral Lok™ technology to attach thousands of live corals, cultivated in REEFLINE’s Miami Native Coral Lab in Allapattah. These corals are specifically chosen for their resilience, including strains grown from survivors of recent bleaching events, to withstand warming ocean temperatures and disease. This approach significantly accelerates the development of a healthy coral reef ecosystem, potentially by decades, making Concrete Coral Miami a vital component of marine restoration.
A Multi-Faceted Project: Beyond the Art Installation
The REEFLINE project extends beyond its initial sculpture deployment of Concrete Coral Miami. It is envisioned as a comprehensive initiative that unites art and environment, science, education, and community engagement. The park is designed to be accessible to the public for eco-tourism Miami activities such as snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and paddleboarding, offering a unique way to experience art and marine life simultaneously.
Future phases of REEFLINE will include other monumental installations by international artists, such as Petroc Sesti’s “Heart of Okeanos” and Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre’s “Miami Reef Star”. The project also incorporates educational components, with community programs and a floating marine learning center designed to foster ocean literacy and citizen science. By turning art into an engine for marine ecosystem enhancement and education, REEFLINE aims to become a global model for coastal regeneration and inspire collective action for ocean stewardship, building on the success of Concrete Coral Miami.
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner emphasizes the project’s dual role as an environmental safeguard and an economic driver. “Healthy reefs are our natural infrastructure, shielding our treasured beachfront and vital tourism revenue by powerfully reducing storm surge and erosion,” he stated, highlighting the importance of coastal protection. The REEFLINE installation is seen not just as a cultural attraction but as a critical long-term economic safeguard and a testament to how creativity can drive real solutions for a changing planet. This news from Miami highlights a trending approach to environmental conservation, merging artistic innovation with scientific necessity through projects like Concrete Coral Miami.
The REEFLINE’s 11-phase initiative is a testament to collaborative efforts, bringing together artists, scientists, marine biologists, coastal engineers, architects, and local government. While not a complete solution to complex issues like climate change, Caminos believes the project can serve as a powerful catalyst for dialogue, demonstrating how man-made problems can be addressed with creative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary man-made solutions. The successful deployment of “Concrete Coral Miami” marks a significant milestone, heralding a new era for Miami Beach as a destination that blends vibrant cultural offerings with critical environmental action.
