Marblis

Urchinite™ is a biomarble engineered from sea urchin shells, designed to support marine restoration and architectural design. Made from biocalcite, a naturally occurring marine mineral found in sea urchin shells, Urchinite is formed by integrating this mineral into a biobased binder, resulting in a durable, marble-like stone material. 

The sea urchins used are strongylocentrotus purpuratus, also known as purple sea urchins, which are harvested from targeted restoration sites where kelp forests have been severely damaged by them. By harvesting sea urchins from these impacted areas, Urchinite actively contributes to the recovery of marine ecosystems. As the world’s first biomarble made from marine biocalcite, Urchinite offers a regenerative material solution for natural green building and sustainable architecture. 

For every 50 units of biomarble slab, 1.1 acres of sea urchin are cleared to make way for kelp regrowth, transforming sea urchin deserts into vibrant kelp forest ecosystems. Each biomarble slab is 5’ x 8’ feet.

Experienced, commercial scuba divers harvest purple sea urchins from the ocean at kelp restoration sites where sea urchin outbreaks have been particularly detrimental. Once landed, sea urchin biocalcites are mineralized and cultured with a biobased binder material, resulting in a durable, marble-like stone material called biomarble. The urchinite biomarble then undergoes finishing, grading, and stringent testing by our team of scientists and engineers to ensure their quality and performance are up to our standards. Each piece is hand crafted, and unique so no two are exactly the same.

Biomarble is designed to be more durable than natural marble and limestone, with properties like temperature, stain, and chemical resistance.