THE BIRDHOUSE BETH FISHER
INDEX 1 SYNOPSIS 2 PUB CRAWL 3 EARLY CONCEPT 4 “THE BIRDHOUSE” 5 GETTING SPECIFIC 5.1 PUBLIC HOUSE 5.2 OBSERVATORY 5.3 NEST OBSERVATORY 5.4 THRESHOLD 5.5 AVIARY 5.6 SANCTUARY, PRIVATE RESIDENCE
6 FINAL SCHEME
1 SYNOPSIS
FIG 1: NEST BUILDING
“A PUBLIC HOUSE FOR BOTH HUMANS AND BIRDS”
Mute Swan Greylag Goose Greater Canada Goose Mandarin Duck Mallard Red-legged Partridge Common Pheasant Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Great Cormorant European Shag Grey Heron Red Kite Eurasian Marsh Harrier Eurasian Sparrowhawk Common Buzzard Osprey Common Kestrel Merlin Eurasian Hobby Common Moorhen Common Coot Eurasian Oystercatcher European Golden Plover Grey Plover Northern Lapwing Common Snipe Jack Snipe Common Greenshank Common Sandpiper Black-headed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern Stock Pigeon Common Wood Pigeon Eurasian Collared Dove European Turtle Dove Common Cuckoo Barn Owl Little Owl Tawny Owl Common Swift Common Kingfisher Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Sky Lark Barn Swallow House Martin Meadow Pipit Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail White/Pied Wagtail Winter Wren Hedge Accentor (Dunnock) European Robin Common Nightingale Stonechat Common Blackbird Fieldfare Song Thrush Redwing Mistle Thrush Sedge Warbler Eurasian Reed Warbler Blackcap Lesser Whitethroat Common Whitethroat Common Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Goldcrest Spotted Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Eurasian Treecreeper Eurasian Jay Black-billed Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw Rook Carrion Crow Common Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch European Greenfinch European Goldfinch Common Linnet Common Bullfinch Yellowhammer Reed Bunting Black Swan
BIRDS OBSERVED ON THE RIVER CAM
Mute Swan Greylag Goose Greater Canada Goose Mandarin Duck Mallard Red-legged Partridge Common Pheasant
GREEN SPACE IN CHESTERTON
PENNY FERRY
EXISTING BUILDING
LIE OF THE LAND
SITE (BIRD’S POINT OF VIEW)
2 PUB CRAWL
GREEN DRAGON, CHESTERTON
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF THE GREEN DRAGON: “TYPICAL” PUB
TALKING WITH GREEN DRAGON REGULARS
IN CHESTERTON, PUBS WITH SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE, HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY ONE GENERIC PUB WITH NO SPECIFIC CLIENTELE. WHAT YOU END UP WITH IS SOMETHING AND NOTHING. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A FLEXIBLE SPACE WHICH CAN TAKE ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHARACTERS, BUT DOES NOT ACHIEVE THIS. I SET ABOUT EXPLORING THIS IDEA OF THE DEGREE TO WHICH A PUB IS SPECIALIZED.
INVESTIGATING LEVEL CHANGES IN THE ANCHOR, DISTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE IS DICTATED BY DISTINCT, FAIRLY EXTREME LEVEL CHANGES. WE SEE THE SAME PHENOMENON IN THE GREEN DRAGON, WHERE THE CHANGES IN HEIGHT ARE FAR SUBTLER, MEASURING ONLY 10MM IN PLACES. THIS DESCREET KIND OF SCHEME COULD BE PUT IN PLACE TO SEPARATE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHILST PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTION. GIVING PEOPLE THEIR OWN SPACE WHERE THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE AS A PART OF A GROUP OR ON THEIR OWN, WITHOUT SEGREGATING THEM TOO HARSHLY FROM THE REST OF THE PUNTERS, SEEMS LIKE AN IDEAL SETUP FOR A PUB WITH A VARIED CLIENTELE.
THE ANCHOR
THE GREEN DRAGON
FIG 2: EGG LAYING
3 EARLY CONCEPT
CONCEPT SKETCHES
1. A HEIRACHY OF ACTIVITY: THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE PUB TAKE ON A GENERAL PURPOSE, MOVING UP THE SPACES BECOME MORE SPECIALISED, FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES AND GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
2. REINVENTING THE PUBLIC HOUSE: A FLEXIBLE SPACE WHERE A NUMBER OF MORE UNCOVENTIONAL ACTIVITIES CAN TAKE PLACE AS WELL AS TYPICAL PUB BEHAVIOUR. PEOPLE CAN CARRY OUT THEIR ACTIVITIES COMFORTABLY AS IF THEY ARE IN AN EXTENSION OF THEIR OWN HOME.
3. BIGGER GROUPS, SPACES, SOUNDS AND MORE MOVEMENT ON THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE PUB, BECOMING MORE CONCENTRATED AS YOU MOVE UPWARDS.
4. PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOMENTS OF OVERLAP AND INTERACTION BETWEEN SEPERATE GROUPS OF PEOPLE
MODEL CORRESPONDING TO SKETCH 1
MODEL CORRESPONDING TO SKETCH 4
4 “THE BIRDHOUSE”
CONCEPT: TAKING PARTS OF THE EXISTING PLAN, REAPPROPRIATING IT AND CREATING SOMETHING NEW, MUCH LIKE BUILDING A NEST
BIRDS IN ARCHITECTURE
WINGARDHS
HIDES CONSTRUCTED BY BIRD WATCHERS WHICH PROVIDE NESTING MATERIALS AND HIDING PLACES FOR SMALL BIRDS, SUCH AS PITPITS AND WAGTAILS
NENDO
78 ENTRANCES FOR BIRDS ON ONE SIDE AND OE BIG DOOR FOR HUMANS ON THE OTHER
GITTA GSCHWENDTER
A WALL WHICH INCORPORATES 1000 NEST BOXWS FOR BIRDS AND BATS
CHAD WRIGHT
“PENTHOUSE” NEST BOXES WITH VARYING HEIGHTS, FOR A VARIETY OF BIRDS
GMP ARCHITECTURE
15M TALL WOODEN STRUCTURE BUILT ON A BIRD SANCTUARY FOR OBSERVING THE BIRD OF THE REGION
AVERAGE BIRD FLIGHT HIEGHTS
CONCLUSION: I NEED TO BUILD UPWARDS
MUTE SWAN
COMMON KINGFISHER
HOUSE SPARROW
MALLARD
GOOSE
EUROPEAN ROBIN
OWL
WOODPECKER
COMMON KESTREL
CARRION CROW
OSPREY STOCK PIGEON
HERRING GULL
MERLIN
COMMON BUZZARD
COMMON TERN
SKYLARK
MANDARIN DUCK
MALLARD
S
WOODPECKER EUROPEAN ROBIN
MUTE SWAN
COMMON BUZZARD
MANDARIN DUCK GOOSE
COMMON KINGFISHER
STO PIG
OWL
CURRENT PENNY FERRY
SPARROW
GULL
R
COMMON TERN
OSPREY
COMMON
SKYLARK
OCK GEON CARRION CROW
MERLIN
SECTIONAL EXPLORATIONS
“BIRD OF THE CENTURY”, NEAR THREAT-
POPULATION RAPIDLY DECLINING
ENED MEDIUM LARGE BIRD OF PREY
FAVOURED FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL SONG ACROBATIC AND VERY WILLING TO USE FEEDERS AND NEST BOXES
POPULATION DECREASED BY 70% IN THE UK OVER 25 YEARS
MELODIOUS VOICE, DECLINING POPULATION
RECENT AMBER CONSERVATION STATUS, ATTRACTIVE BIRD
ONLY 10% OF THE SKYLARKS PRESENT 30 YEARS AGO
NON MIGRATORY,
ATTRACTIVE, IN-
TERRITORIAL,
TERESTING BIRD
YOUNG OWLS CAN
WITH A VIBRANT
STARVE ONCE PA-
PERSONALITY
ENDANGERED ABROAD -
RENTAL CARE STOPS
DISTINCTIVE SONG
TOURISTS WILL LKE THIS
POPULATION DECLINE, HABITAT BEING RESTORED
LOCAL EXTINCTION IN SOME AREAS
BOLD AND COURAGEOUS BIRD
MODULES OF THE BIRDHOUSE SANCTUARY NO ACCESS TO HUMANS, PROVIDES FOOD, SHELTER
AND NESTING MATERIALS FOR BIRDS, A HIGH VANTAGE POINT TO ATTRACT BIRDS TO THE STRUCTURE
AVIARY LIMITED ACCESS TO HUMANS AS IT REQUIRING SCAL-
ING A NUMBER OF STAIRS, SO AS NOT TO DISTURB THE BIRDS. ONLY PART OF THE BUILDING HUMANS ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE BIRDS
NESTING/SOUND OBSERVATORY GOLDEN REED PROVIDES NESTING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIRDS, A DARKENED SPACE INSIDE WHERE HUMANS APPRECIATE THE AURAL ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY THE BIRDS
NESTING/OBSERVATORY NEST BOXES TAILOR MADE TO SPECIFIC
BIRDS ARE ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE WALLS OF THE STRUCTURE, WITH PEEPHOLES TO ALLOW HUMANS INSIDE TO OBSERVE THE BIRDS NESTING
PECKING AWAY LESS AND LESS ACCOMODATION REQUIRED FOR HUMANS HIGHER UP; CREATING WALLS OF DIFFERENT ORIENTATIONS TO SUIT DIFFERENT BIRDS. THE STRUCTURE GROWS UPWARDS FROM THE CURRENT PENNY FERRY, BECOMING MORE REFINED AS IT DOES SO.
PRIVATE HOUSE
AVIARY
SOUND OBSERVATORY > NESTING
OBSERVATORY > NESTING
PUBLIC HOUSE > OBSERVATORY
PUBLIC HOUSE
INITIAL PLAN AND SECTION
5 GETTING SPECIFIC
FIG 3: HATCHING
PUBLIC HOUSE
OBSERVATORY
FLOOR PLANS
OBSERVATORY/ NESTING
THRESHOLD
AVIARY
site PLAN
1:200 MODEL
MATERIALITY
MASSY CONCRETE ON THE LOWER FLOORS GIVE A FEELING OF SOLIDITY, WOODEN PANELLED UPPER FLOORS ARE MORE NATURAL, APPROPRIATE AS THESE SPACES ARE MORE BIRD ORIENTATED. THE GOLDEN REED THRESHOLD MARKS THE TRANSITION BETWEEN HUMAN AND BIRD FOCUSED SPACES.
EXAMINING OVERSHADOWING SUMMER SOLSTICE
8AM
1
9AM
1
10AM
1
SPRING/AUTUMN EQUINOX
WINTER SOLSTICE
12 NOON
5PM
12 NOON
4PM
12 NOON
3PM
SHADOWS IN SUMMER ARE SHORTER THAN IN ANY OTHER SEASON. THEREFORE, MY STRUCTURE WILL BE THE LEAST OBTRUSIVE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, IN TERMS OF BLOCKING LIGHT TO THE NEIGHBOURING HOUSES. AT 12 NOON, WHERE SOME OF THE HOUSES ARE IN SHADOW AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR, THE STRUCTURE CAUSES ABSOLUTELY NO BLOCKING OF LIGHT TO THESE BUILDINGS. IN AUTUMN AND SPRING, THE BUILDING PRESENTS MORE OF AN OVERSHADOWING PROBLEM TO THE HOUSES. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING AND MID AFTERNOON ONWARDS, THE HOUSES SHOULD RECIEVE PLENTY OF LIGHT, BUT DURING THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE DAY, THE HOUSES WILL RECIEVE SOME SHADOW. IN WINTER, SHADOWS ARE AT THEIR LONGEST, WHICH MEANS THAT MY BUILDING WILL BE OVERSHADOWING THE HOUSES THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE DAY. THIS IS THE ONLY CASE WHERE HOUSES ARE IN SHADOW AT ALL THREE TIMES OF THE DAY. IT IS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THE TREES BEGIN CASTING SHADOWS ONTO THE HOUSES, ALSO. I AM THEREFORE INCLINED TOWARDS REMOVING SOME OF THE MASS OF THE UPPER SECTION OF THE STRUCTURE.
REVISED FLOOR PLANS: “PECKED AWAY” AT FURTHER TO REFINE THEM, AND CREATE LESS OF AN OBSTRUCTION TO NEIGHBOURING HOUSES
8 AM
USING THE HELIODON, I WAS ABLE TO DOCUMENT WHICH FACES OF THE BUILDING WERE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, AND WHICH WERE IN SHADOW AT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE DAY. THIS CAN HELP PREDICT WHERE ABOUTS BIRDS ARE MOST LIKELY TO FLOCK TO THROUGOUT THE DAY, AS BIRDS WILLA AVOID NESTING IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. THEREFORE, THE SHADOW DIAGRAMS SHOW THE PLACES BIRDS ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE SIGHTED.
9 AM
10 AM
12 NOON 12 NOON 5PM
12 NOON 12 NOON
4PM
5PM
4PM
SUMMER SOLSTICE SUMMER SOLSTICE
SPRING/AUTUMN EQUINOX SPRING/AUTUMN EQUINOX
WINTER SOLSTICE WINTER SOLSTICE 12 NOON
3 PM
12 NOON
3 PM
PUBLIC/PRIVATE INVERSION BETWEEN FLOORS
BIRD HUMAN
PUBLIC PRIVATE
SANCTUARY PRIVATE RESIDENCE
DINING ROOM AVIARY
NESTING THRESHOLD
NESTING NEST OBSERVATORY
SEMI PRIVATE RESIDENCE OBSERVATORY
PRIVATE RESIDENCE PUBLIC HOUSE
RED KITE
UNCOMMON GLIMPSE PROTECT
BEAUTY
BLACKCAP
BULLFINCH
GLIMPSE
LISTEN SONG
PROTECT
SONG THRUSH
SONG LINNET PROTECT
OSPREY BEAUTY UNCOMMON GLIMPSE PROTECT
EURASIAN HOBBY
CUCKOO
SONG
PERSONALITY WATCH
PROTECT
GREENFINCH
LISTEN
TAWNY UNCOMMON OWL
GLIMPSE LISTEN
BEAUTY
BEAUTY
GLIMPSE
SONG
UNCOMMON
PROTECT
GLIMPSE PROTECT
PERSONALITY SONG
LAPWING
WATCH
BEAUTY
GREAT TIT
LISTEN WATCH
GOLDFINCH
LITTLE OWL
BARN SWALLOW PERSONALITY
PERSONALITY
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
BEAUTY
UNCOMMON
WATCH
WATCH
HOUSEMARTIN BEAUTY PERSONALITY
WILLOW WARBLER
WATCH
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
BARN OWL BEAUTY
PERSONALITY
GLIMPSE
WATCH
PROTECT
PROTECT
UNCOMMON WATCH
PROTECT
PIED WAGTAIL PERSONALITY
FIELDFARE
PROTECT
WATCH
EURASIAN SKYLARK
LISTEN
WATCH BEAUTY
KINGFISHER
PERSONALITY
PERSONALITY
PROTECT WATCH PERSONALITY
BEAUTY PROTECT
SNIPE
UNCOMMON
WATCH
WATCH
GREAT CRESTED GREBE MANDARIN DUCK
BEAUTY UNCOMMON GLIMPSE
TRAIT
PERSONALITY BEAUTY WATCH
MAY BE BOLD, SOCIABLE, ACROBATIC ETC.
PROTECT
CUCKOO
SONG
PERSONALITY WATCH
PROTECT
GREENFINCH
LISTEN
TAWNY UNCOMMON OWL
GLIMPSE LISTEN
BEAUTY
BEAUTY
GLIMPSE
SONG
UNCOMMON
PROTECT
GLIMPSE PROTECT
PERSONALITY SONG
LAPWING
WATCH
BEAUTY
GREAT TIT
LISTEN WATCH
GOLDFINCH
LITTLE OWL
BARN SWALLOW PERSONALITY
PERSONALITY
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
BEAUTY
UNCOMMON
WATCH
WATCH
HOUSEMARTIN BEAUTY PERSONALITY
WILLOW WARBLER
WATCH
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
BARN OWL BEAUTY
PERSONALITY
GLIMPSE
WATCH
PROTECT
PROTECT
UNCOMMON WATCH
PROTECT
PIED WAGTAIL PERSONALITY
FIELDFARE
PROTECT
WATCH
EURASIAN SKYLARK
LISTEN
WATCH BEAUTY
KINGFISHER
PERSONALITY
PERSONALITY
PROTECT WATCH PERSONALITY
BEAUTY PROTECT UNCOMMON
SNIPE
WATCH
WATCH
GREAT CRESTED GREBE MANDARIN DUCK
BEAUTY UNCOMMON GLIMPSE
PERSONALITY BEAUTY WATCH
TRAIT
PERSONALITY MAY BE BOLD, SOCIABLE, ACROBATIC ETC BEAUTY FAVOURED FOR ITS APPEARANCE SONG FAVOURED FOR ITS SONG UNCOMMON
RARE / NOT A TYPICAL BACK GARDEN BIRD
INTERACTION
WATCH BEHAVIOUR OBSERVED FOR PROLONGED PERIOD GLIMPSE JUST A SIGHTING OF THE BIRD IS ENOUGH LISTEN HEARING THE BIRD’S SONG IS IMPORTANT PROTECT A BIRD IS THREATENED, SHELTER AND FOOD P
CIRCULATION
MAIN CIRCULATION ROUTE SECONDARY CIRCULATION ROUTE PRIVATE CIRCULATION FLOOR REACHED BY THIS ROUTE FLOOR MISSED OUT BY THIS ROUTE
5.1 PUBLIC HOUSE
5.2 OBSERVATORY
OBSERVATORY EXPERIENCE
VIEW FROM OBSERVATORY
5.3 NEST OBSERVATORY
-NORTH/EAST FACING
-KEEP AWAY FROM SONGBIRDS
-CLEAR FLIGHT PATH OUT
-NOT NEAR STARLINGS OR HOUSE SPARROWS
-KEEP AWAY FROM WOODPECKERS
-CLEAR FLIGHT PATH OUT
-IN A CREVICE -AWAY FROM SPARROWS -ALUMINIIUM TO STOP WOODPECKERS PECKING
-AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE - CLEAR FLIGHT PATH
-NOT IN CONTACT WITH TREES
-NORTH EAST FACING TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT
-VERY VISIBLE HOLE -NO LOW ENTRANCES, OWLETS CAN FALL OUT -AS LIGHT PROOF AS POSSIBLE, SO NORTH FACING
-CLOSE TO RUNNING WATER
-FACING NE > SE, OVER GRASSLAND
-LOW POSITION AS LOW FLYING BIRD
-GOOD VIEW -LOWER RATHER THAN HIGHER
-OVAL SHAPED HOLE -NOT OBSTRUCTED BY TREES
-SOUTH GACING FOR GOOD SUNLIGHT -WATER AND GRASS LAWN NEAR BY
-NESTLED IN A CREEPER
-LEAST POSSIBLE DIRECT SUNLIGHT
-CLEAR, DIRECT FLIGHT PATH -MIGHT LIKE SOME VEGETATION -LOWER RATHER THAN HIGHER -FACING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SOUTH EAST AND NORTH EAST -STAGING POST (BRANCH) 3M AWAY
-HIGHER RATHER THAN LOWER
SPOTTE
K BARN SWALLOW
PIED
BARN OWL
ROBIN
GREAT TIT
SWIFT
HOUSEMARTIN
TAWNY OWL
S
ED FLYCATCHER
KINGFISHER
E
WATER SOUNDS
W
N
D WAGTAIL
LITTLE OWL
TRAFFIC SOUNDS STARLING
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
EXTERIOR
INTERIOR
SECTION THROUGH NEST WALL
VIEW FROM NEST WALL
5.4 THRESHOLD
“HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE BIRDS?”
THE THRESHOLD IS SITUATED IN THE NESTING/ SOUND OBSERVATORY FLOOR, AND MARKS A BOUNDARY BETWEEN BIRDS AND HUMANS BEING SEPERATED, AND BEING IN CONTACT IT COMPRISES OF RAMPS AND STAIRS, WHICH ARE UNCOMFORTABLY STEEP AT THE BOTTOM, GRADUALLY BECOMING MORE MANAGABLE AT THE TOP IT IS DARKER IN THE LOWER REGIONS, WITH HOLES PIERCED IN THE WALLS HIGHER UP, SO MORE LIGHT SPILLS IN. THE WALLS ARE ALSO MORE INSULATING OF SOUND LOWER DOWN, SO THE BIRDSONG IS FAR MORE AUDIABLE AS YOU REACH THE AVIARY THE STAIRS AND RAMPS ARE DESIGNED TO SLOW DOWN THE PACE OF A PERSON AS THEY NEAR THE AVIARY, GIVING IT A SOMEWHAT PROCESSIONAL FEEL AND ALLOWING THEM TO FULLY TAKE IN THEIR SURROUNDINGS. THE SERIES OF RAMPS AND STAIRS MEANS THAT THE FLOW OF PEOPLE TO THE AVIARY LEVEL IS DICTATED BY DESIRE - ONLY THOSE WILLING TO SCALE THE OBSTACLES WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE THE BIRDS FACE TO FACE.
MAIN FACTORS I ACOUSTICALLY
PROXIMITY TO SOURCE OF NOISE
LARGE V
IN CREATING AN Y aLIVE ROOM
VOLUME
LARGE EXPANSES OF HARD SURFACE
5.5 AVIARY
5.6 SANCTUARY + PRIVATE RESIDENCE
6 FINAL SCHEME
FIG 4: FLEDGLINGS
PUBLIC HOUSE
OBSERVATORY
NEST OBSERVATORY
THRESHOLD
AVIARY
PRIVATE HOUSE
SECTION FROM WATER STREET