For a bird a 'natural habitat' is a foreign concept. The bird doesn't mind its surroundings, as long as there is a fitting place to breed and the right flora and fauna within reach for it to feed itself and its offspring. Its habitat can range from nature reserves to dense urban areas or large industrial complexes and anything in between. In the latter the right nooks and crannies often provide unconventional housing for a range of species, birds included. But there are times a little assistance is needed.
The Bird Factory provides this assistance in a way that emphasises its manmade surroundings by reflecting both the form and the efficiency of an industrial factory. With an optimal use of the provided materials, the Bird factory has space for four nests. Planted in spaces that we don't consider a 'natural habitat' for these birds the Bird Factory sends a signal that, by invading their habitat, they have right to invade ours.
Migrant Garden is a world travelling exhibition consisting of 40 bird nests, designed by 40 selected architects and designers from across the world. The project aims to promote and architectural culture attentive to issues of the environment, the landscape and the protection of cultural heritage. It wants to stimulate a dialogue within the disciplines of architecture and design through an exhibition of 40 manifestos of selected firms, a debate that should start in academic places, promoting a mutual exchange of ideas between students and designers.
The island of De Pinedo is a river island on the river Po in the Municipality of Caorso. It is part of the natural Oasi de Pinedo, a wildlife area, which includes, in addition to the island, a large area of scrub along the river, where many rare species of migrant birds come to nest. Following several invasive procedures such as the removal of vegetation, deforestation and intensive agriculture shares, the habitat of these rare species has been put at risk by forcing some birds to migrate to other (urban) places. Migrant Garden comes from thinking about the condition of these animals, and aims to give space and visibility to that situation.
