Birdhouses

The birdhouses demonstrate how design, creativity, and care for nature can work together. By creating nesting places for birds, the installation aims to inspire action that supports biodiversity and helps create a richer natural environment.

The birdhouses were designed by students from the Industrial Design Engineering programme at Luleå University of Technology. The installations serve several purposes; practical, educational and symbolic.

The birdhouses demonstrate that nesting sites for birds can be designed in many different ways. Through variations in shape, materials, and expression, they highlight the fact that different bird species have different needs. At the same time, the installations show how design can contribute to supporting biodiversity.

The birdhouses also draw attention to our shared responsibility for wildlife and nature. By creating nesting places for birds, the installation aims to inspire action and demonstrate that even small efforts can make a difference for other species and their habitats.

Within the playotope, the birdhouses also add a playful and creative element. They are intended to spark curiosity, encourage conversation, and inspire visitors to consider how they themselves can contribute to a more sustainable and biodiverse environment.

From a bird’s perspective, the birdhouses are placed much closer together than is normally recommended. Many bird species are territorial and prefer greater distances between nesting sites. The dense arrangement has therefore been chosen deliberately as an exhibition format, allowing a wide range of ideas and solutions to be displayed within a limited space.

The purpose is not to demonstrate the optimal placement of birdhouses, but to inspire visitors to take action themselves. In this way, the installation reflects Wasteland’s motto: Plant a Seed. Fix future.

The birdhouses show how small actions can lead to larger changes, and how each of us can take a first step towards supporting nature and building a more sustainable future.

What can you do to help birds find a home?

There are around 250 bird species in Sweden, and they build their homes in many different types of environments. Some depend on meadows, others on wetlands, old-growth forests, or coastal areas. One of the most important things we can do is choose organic food, which helps support farming practices that create healthier, less polluted habitats for wildlife.

Another way to help is by supporting projects that protect forests, meadows, and biodiversity. If you have a garden, you can plant species that provide seeds or berries for birds, such as sunflowers or serviceberry.

Installing a birdhouse can also help certain species. If you build one yourself, choose rough-sawn timber rather than planed wood. The rough surface makes it easier for young birds to climb out of the nest when they are ready to fly. The size of the entrance hole and the distance between the hole and the floor of the nest box are also important factors.

If you feed birds from your garden or balcony, choose nutritious bird food, preferably organic.

Good luck – and thank you for helping to create better habitats for birds!