The Bivalve Hypar Concrete Shell
Integrating an ecological function, offering a scalable model for restoring marine habitat along urban shorelines.
β Jinjin (Violet) Zhang, Creator.
Category
Habitat Restoration
Creator
Jinjin (Violet) Zhang, Creator
Program
Interior Design, 2026
The Bivalve Hypar Concrete Shell explores a cast concrete structure that mediates between New York Cityβs urban edge and its tidal ecosystems. Formed as a bivalved shell with a hypar perimeter, it fits irregular riprap shorelines and embeds cavities for oysters, mussels, and bladderwrack to promote filtration, habitat stability, and biodiversity. The shell was cast using a woven surface within a hypar pneumatic frame, enabling efficient formation of complex curvature with minimal waste. This fabrication method integrates ecological function directly into the structure, offering a scalable model for restoring marine habitat along urban shorelines.