Nest & Cave in Mangrove Ecosystem

The mangrove tree crab lives within and around the red mangrove tree. The crab operates in a network of both aquatic and terrestrial species, each contributing to the predator/prey relationship of the crab. This includes birds up in the tree canopy and fish by the water. Most importantly, the crab's main source of food is red mangrove leaves.

Research Platforms

Greynolds Park is a public park open for recreation and gathering which provides an opportunity to promote community learning of the ecosystem due to the surrounding urban density with its proximity to the Oleta river.

Burrow Condition, the Cave

This shows a relationship between the humans and the crabs, where they experience tight spaces, similar to the crabs in their burrows.

Canopy Condition, the Nest

Within the funnel structures, the crab finds refuge from predators allowing for migration towards the water during high tide to lay their eggs.

The Nest and Cave along the Oleta River

The design embraces forms of construction and materiality that represent resilience, strength, and sustainability. At the same time, it creates a parallel world between the researcher and the small laborers (the crabs) that can be repeated on other coastlines which promotes the learning of the mangrove systems (whether successful or depleted) while enhancing their productivity for the protection of our coastlines.