Behind the Scenes: An Update From Our Berkeley Biodesign Lab
Developing a new class of biocalcite architectural material from sea urchins has been a bigger undertaking than we imagined at the start, and while our original timeline has shifted, we're more confident than ever in what we're building toward, materials that can be produced at scale with integrity, durability, and real environmental impact.
Marine Restoration Ecosystem
Kelp Restoration
We have been working with our partners at The Nature Conservancy to accelerate kelp recovery at Big River in Mendocino, California through grazer suppression and kelp enhancement. As part of our 2026 collection, we will be utilizing purple urchins harvested from this 5-acre restoration site in Big River.
Urchin Processing
We have been reviewing sites across California to process purple sea urchins harvested from targeted kelp restoration sites by our partners. Securing the proper site will enable us to scale our urchin processing operations for our upcoming pilot.
Pilot Program
We've received enthusiastic interest from potential pilot project participants across the US, primarily in California, including homeowners, architects, interior designers, and small business owners. All meetings have reinforced the deep passion designers and end-users have to restore kelp forest ecosystems through the built environment. We are currently reviewing candidates for the pilot program and will be extending invitations soon. We appreciate the continued patience and support of all those who have reached out.
Design
Sample box design
We have been iterating on our packaging design to ensure they are structural, eco-friendly, and embody our ethos of regenerative design. We have developed a few prototypes that will be green-lit for production in the next few months.
Catalog
We’ve completed a draft of our pilot catalog. Once the final sample colors and patterns are confirmed, the digital version will be distributed. A print catalog will also be included with the sample boxes.
Materials Science
Technology
We have been improving our material formulations and processing technology to reliably create consistent and replicable patterns at increasing scales from sea urchin biocalcites. Further developing our technology will enable us to achieve the aesthetic depth of natural stone, with the refined performance of precision-engineered materials.
Furniture
Prototyping for our furniture line is underway, including the highly popular Uni Abalone Vessel. We aim to fulfill vessel orders as soon as prototyping is finalized and production can begin, with the side table to follow soon after. Stay tuned for prototype photos!
Wall Tile & Countertops
Materials performance testing is ongoing, with very encouraging results that indicate performance equal to or exceeding competing countertop materials. To ramp up production, we are actively considering acquiring an existing countertop manufacturing company.