Getting involved can be fun. By engaging California beach-goers, we can re-wild and protect our beaches from rising sea levels.

14 week project including:

On Site Research

Material Development

Storytelling

Environmental Advocacy

The beach needs our help.

Sea levels are rising at an alarming rate in California ( & beyond ). While we have built a huge infrastructure around this culture, we have so much to lose when the beaches wash away. 

They are meant to be wild.​

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Our desire for the perfect beach sand has devastated the natural beach ecosystems that protect the area. Beach manicuring has created a false narrative of what a wild California beach should be.

My research at the Los Cerritos Wetlands highlighted a disconnect from the community.​

The community is locked out

of being part of the solution.​

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Unfortunately, conservation efforts often keep the public from taking part. We lack a real connection to native ecosystems.

Flat beaches of the California coastline.

How can we get our communities involved in beach preservation?

1/4

Hiring nature as our contractor.

This sandy architecture is a tested and true way to get people to play at the beach, as well as being a great 'brick' for modular construction. These will protect native plants and animals and collect washed in sediment.

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Structure meets involvement.

[The final idea]

Let's build 

sandcastles together!

Change starts with a connection to our surroundings. By involving the community, we take an immersive educational approach to beach re-wilding. 

The league is a cyclical project that

grows together  with natural biological and social environments. Beachgoers build sandcastle structures to reinforce ecosystems that protect the beach.

 Community campaign.​

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Inspired by surf culture, a campaign is launched that speaks directly to the people who spend most of their time at the beach.

2  The buildout.

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People build their castles the same way they always have. The special part is that they can mold their names right into them, meaning they can leave a physical mark to return to again and again.

Safe and sound!

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The interior of these castles make perfect micro environments for native plants and sea creatures, as well as sand traps to stabilize the land below.  

Built to last!

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By utilizing specialized bacterial processes, we can make these castles much harder so they can stand the test of time.

Check it out!

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People love to revisit their mark. By creating a sense of ownership, people have a real stake in the project.

 Seasons of change.​

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Things in nature grow and change with the seasons. These structures were never intended to be permanent, but a foundation to build a wilder, and stronger connection to the magic of the beach.

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Together, we grow stronger.

© Miranda Lapour, 2020. All rights reserved.