The purpose of this project was to pick a bird of our choosing and build a birdhouse the best suits their needs through their habitat, diet, nesting, and other factors. This project took on a unique persecutive for beginners in design because it allowed the student to think of the bird as if it were a client in creating a design that would best work for them. My chosen bird was the Green Headed Tanager because I was first insipid by its many, vibrant colors.
Mind Map
In order to categorize the research on my bird, I created a mind map to neatly organize my information, while also creating an aesthetically pleasing composition.
Important Research found for the Green Headed Tanager
Location: Southeast Brazil, Southeast Paraguay, and Northeast Argentina
Size: 5 1/8" in length and height, 18g in mass
Diet: Cultivated fruits such as bananas and oranges
Habitat: Lowland tropical forest and banana trees in cultivated areas
Behavior: Very active, visit feeding trays, and travel in small flocks (6-12)
Nesting: Between the trunk and leaf stalk of banana trees
Concept
Create a birdhouse for the Green Headed Tanager's natural habitat by using the banana plant as inspiration for form, color, pattern, and functionality.
Inspiration Pictures from the Banana Tree
Process
Perspective Drawing
Plan, Section, and Elevation
3" = 1'-0"
Material
Eucalyptus wood will be used as the material for constructing the birdhouse because of its unique cell structure, extreme density, and high oil content that repels moisture and rot in the bird's humid habitat. The wood is a predominant timber that is produced, processed, and traded in Brazil. It is also a renewable resource because it is a plantation-grown hardwood that is sustainably harvested and in plentiful supply.
Presentation Boards
See a more detailed view of the 3D model of the bird house design
