Miami Beach To Open Underwater Sculpture Park That Protects Wildlife This Year

By Mikelle Leow, 12 May 2021

Image via The ReefLine

Miami’s famous art scene is soon entering the depths of the ocean, as the very first underwater sculpture park in Miami Beach is set to open this year. The ReefLine will not only serve as an attraction that expands upon the city’s art culture, but also work as a conservation program designed to help aquatic life.

The seven-mile-long park might be an art establishment, but it also crucially involves input from marine biologists, engineers, researchers, and other experts to determine if the sculptures and materials won’t wreck their surroundings. The goal is to create an environment that mitigates rising sea levels and coral reef damage while honoring the Miami art scene, shared OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu.

A new master plan presented by architecture firm OMA, via My Modern Met, previews what visitors can expect in ReefLine Phase One, which could arrive as early as December this year. Conceptual artist Leandro Erlich, for one, will replicate his installation of sand-covered car and truck sculptures in a “traffic jam” among reef structures. This time around, the vehicles will serve as positive symbols for marine life.

When the ReefLine opens, it will also include a snorkeling path, reef sculptures, and a barricade separating visitors and boats. The architectural project was commissioned to OMA by Ximena Caminos, chair of the BlueLab Preservation Society.