CalciCorals is a design research project initiated within the Experimental Interaction Minor at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) in February 2025. The ongoing research is structured into three main areas: studies of marine ecosystems focusing on the material calcium carbonate, design of architectural forms inspired by coral reefs, and prototype testing in aquatic environments.

High levels of carbon emissions have a significant impact on the balance of the ocean ecosystems. Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolve in the seawater, releasing hydrogen ions and lowering the pH levels. This process leads to ocean acidification and other changes in the marine ecosystems. 

One of the most affected groups by even the slightest acidic shifts is the marine organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for their shell and skeleton formation. These calcifying organisms include various species of corals, mussels, oysters, clams, sea urchins, and crustaceans. As ocean acidity increases, their calcium carbonate structures begin to dissolve, leading to the degradation of coral reefs (the main ecosystem in the ocean), declines in biodiversity, disruptions in the marine food web, altered species behavior, and the extinction of local species.