Great news reached us this week from HM Gibraltar -
For us the project started back in 2018 when HM Gibraltar Department of the Environment, Sustainability & Climate Change reached out to us to see if we could help bring some biodiversity to a local harbour wall. We set about designing some proposals for a variety of different Vertipool arrays and eventually came up with a four/six layout - four ‘Bouldner’ model units and six ‘Compton’ model units. We realised quite early on though that our Bouldner model Vertipool was slightly too large to ship easily to Gibraltar so we went back to the drawing board, made some alterations and came up with the brand new ‘Gibraltar’ model. New Vertipool models are always named after the first place they are deployed!
Sketch showing the proposed four/six Vertipool layoput.
The adapted Gibraltar model sketch.
Once everything was agreed with HM Gibraltar work started in the studio here on the Isle of Wight to make the bespoke set of Vertipools. All the cast Vertipools feature pattern imprinted detail as well as sculptural handmade detail using special reduced carbon conrete.
Maker Ches George working on one of the ‘Gibraltar’ model Vertipools in our studio in Sandown Bay.
Nige using a home made tool called a Knampspaggler (yes it’s really called that!) to create the kind of texured surface detail favoured by colonising biological life.
Two Artecology Vertipools installed in the Mediterranean waters of Gibraltar. Photo: Gibraltar Marine Reserve.
The HM Gibraltar team installing a Compton model Vertipool. Photo: Gibraltar Marine Reserve.
We’re delighted to see the first Vertipools installed, our first in the Med. We simply cannot wait to see how they develop over the coming months and in particular how their ecological succession will compare to those installed in the colder waters of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. Watch this space!!