Coastal Coasters

After finishing the bathymetry coffee table, I wanted a smaller giftable piece that kept the same data-driven idea. Coastal coasters were the natural next scale: still based on real underwater topography, but something you could mail in a box.

I started with bathymetric survey data for regions I cared about — the Bay Area, Monterey Bay, Lake Tahoe, and a few others — and turned quantized depth contours into 3D-printable masters.

Process

1. 3D print bathymetry masters
2. Cast silicone molds from those masters
3. Pour self-leveling concrete into the molds
4. Fill the water contours with resin over the concrete
5. Sand to a flat, finished surface

The finished pieces came out as thick concrete squares with translucent blue-green resin sitting in the depth contours — little coastal maps you can put a mug on.

They made great gifts.