Akari Birdhouse

draws on the construction techniques of Japanese paper lamps. Instead of paper, the Akari birdhouse uses DuPont Tyvek, a one way vapor barrier typically used in the housing construction industry. The amount of Tyvek needed for each house is small enough that castoff or scrap leftover from housing construction is reused to make the birdhouses.

The akari birdhouse was developed specifically for Purple Martins. Everything from the size and shape of the entrance hole to where the house is hung is specific to this species of bird.

Some of my early concept sketches. The goal was to design a birdhouse made out of a renewable or recycled material. Purple Martins interested me because they rely entirely on humans for nesting.

My final concept is based on the construction techniques of traditional Japanese paper lamps.

This construction technique allows for the final form to collapse flat, an important aspect when considering large scale shipping cost.

DuPont Tyvek is a perfect choice of material to cover the outside of the house. It is a one way vapor barrier which means that moisture can escape, but cannot get back in. This product is typically used as a skin over the outside of buildings.