February 2025
FISH CUBE – Exploring the Relationship Between Art, Sustainability and the Underwater World
At the intersection of art, science, and design, the Fish Cube project emerges as an innovative solution that pushes the boundaries of conventional architecture and fosters a new relationship between humans and the underwater environment. To gain deeper insight into the project’s details and motivations, we spoke with KWY studio, one of the creative minds behind Fish Cube, in collaboration with SUPERFLEX.
In our conversation, we explored the inspirations, technical and artistic challenges, and the project’s strong commitment to sustainability and positive environmental impact.
Photography: Adriano Ferreira Borges
What inspired the creation of Fish Cube, a project that challenges conventional architecture by connecting humans with the underwater environment?
Fish Cube is the result of extensive research and development, exploring geometries that address both technical and artistic needs. It serves as a building block for new underwater reefs while also acting as a medium for communication and awareness, promoting a more balanced relationship between humans and the surrounding marine species.
How has the study of marine species’ behavior influenced the design of Fish Cube? Are there specific elements or features inspired by the needs of aquatic life?
The modularity of Fish Cube allows for adaptable compositions with varying characteristics, such as orientation and light exposure, enabling the creation of environments suited to different species. In other words, the same module can form more open or enclosed reef structures, on a larger or smaller scale, with surfaces oriented in different ways. Additionally, its versatility extends beyond the underwater world, making it possible to construct structures for human use in terrestrial environments.
Photography: Adriano Ferreira Borges
In terms of production methods, what led you to choose the wire-cutting technique? What advantages has this method provided in maximizing surface area and minimizing waste?
The geometry developed, combined with the wire-cutting technique, ensures full utilization of the selected blocks, resulting in zero waste during production. Additionally, this process significantly increases the surface area of the final shape. Despite its high formal complexity, the production method remains remarkably simple: two cuts yield four pieces, each with seven faces.
While human architecture is often defined by right angles, the underwater environment requires more organic forms. How did you approach these variations to ensure that Fish Cube provides a welcoming habitat for marine life?
Different species of marine flora and fauna have specific habitat requirements, meaning there is no single ideal reef shape—what matters is variability and the ability to create diverse environments. Organic forms naturally mimic the surfaces found in underwater ecosystems, while straight faces facilitate easy assembly. Fish Cube allows for countless variations, enabling the construction of adaptable and ecologically functional reef structures.
Natural stone was the chosen material for this project. What were the main criteria behind this selection, considering durability, interaction with salt water, and sustainability?
Artificial reefs have been constructed using various materials, often designed to replicate the properties of natural stone, as it is the most prevalent material and fosters the growth of diverse species. In some countries, where underwater degradation results from stone extraction for construction, natural stone is the only material permitted for marine ecosystem restoration.
In balancing art and functionality, what were the main challenges in designing a piece that is both captivating for humans and beneficial for marine species?
Our goal in developing Fish Cube was to create a system that is not only visually striking but also ecologically functional—maintaining that balance was fundamental throughout the process. Naturally, it may not be the most complex reef or the most efficient construction system, but it serves as a platform for new scientific experiments while also raising awareness of the need for a more responsible relationship with nature.
How was the collaboration with the Galrão Group during the development of the Fish Cube? Were there any design adaptations to enhance production efficiency or maximize durability?
The Galrão Group’s expertise in both the material and the wire-cutting production method was crucial in refining the geometry through small adjustments and optimizations to achieve the desired outcome. The ability to test, prototype, and closely monitor production allowed us to continuously learn and improve our processes.
Sustainability was clearly a priority in the production process. Besides wire cutting, what other sustainable practices have you explored to minimize environmental impact?
In the initial project using the Fish Cube, the goal was to test a specific type of stone and dimensions. However, the design and modular system will soon enable us to incorporate materials that are typically considered waste, further enhancing the sustainability of production.
When selecting materials and shapes, what tests or analyses were conducted to ensure the Fish Cube would integrate positively into the marine environment?
The Fish Cube is the result of years of development in collaboration with various specialists. Throughout this time, extensive testing has been carried out with different materials and geometries, including assembling structures in underwater environments and monitoring their evolution over time.
