Coral Area is a sculpture that explores the nature of weightlessness underwater. The stair, a rudimentary architecture element suggestive of directionality and movement, is taken out of its usual context and transformed into an underwater folly. Like the circular formation of the atoll, a series of sinuous spiral stairs create a three-dimensional structure reminiscent of marine life. The organic form provides layered zones for coral reef growth and interstitial spaces for exploration. The stairs rotate around a central forum for underwater gathering and activities.

OMA  is an international practice operating within the boundaries of architecture and urbanism while applying architectural thinking to domains beyond. Established in 2001, OMA New York is responsible for OMA's operations in the Americas. Shohei Shigematsu is a Partner at OMA New York and has led the firm's portfolio in the Americas in Japan—with projects spanning multiple typologies, from museums to masterplans; and various scales, from exhibitions to skyscrapers. His observations and research on the evolving and expanding relationships between art and architecture have informed the design of a number of OMA New York’s cultural projects across the country, including the Faena Forum in Miami, an extension to the National Art Museum of Quebec, and the renovation of Sotheby’s headquarters in New York. He is currently leading the design of the New Museum expansion on Bowery in New York, an extension to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, and the ReefLine underwater sculpture park and sculpture in Miami Beach. The ReefLine is designed by Shohei Shigematsu with Associate Christy Cheng and Senior Architect Caroline Corbett.