The first project of the semester was a quick study of resilient interventions in coastal mangrove ecosystems. The goal was to explore the relationship between a hypothetical built structure in the site context to study the interplay of natural, environmental, built, and occupational conditions of coastal sites. I was to examine natural forces that will influence the design and how marine structures can adapt to, mitigate, and harmonize with these forces.
As the program was flexible, I chose to design a fishing dock that was only kayak or boating accessible located off of the Ozello Trail amongst the Stoney-Lane Outstanding Water. I studied the tides in this region and how mangroves protect the shoreline of this area. Considering the tides fluctuate, I wanted the intervention to be flexible to the site conditions.
The dock consists of three interlocking decks that can move vertically with the tides via tension leg platforms. Each dock can detach from the other, but they are connected by a tethering system that will pull them back together to interlock once the tide reaches its neutral height.
