The Crested HavenA conceptual avian sanctuary designed specifically for the cardinal, thoughtfully balancing ecological care with architectural form. The project explores how intentional design can support species-specific needs while creating a quiet, sculptural presence within the built environment.
Subject Furniture
Type School Project
Duration 5 weeks
Demographic:
Problem Statement:
Bird enthusiasts and homeowners who want to support cardinals while incorporating thoughtful, well-designed objects into their outdoor environments.
Many existing birdhouses and feeders overlook the behavioral needs of cardinals and often suffer from poor drainage, limited shelter, and material deterioration outdoors. A more intentional design is needed that responds to these functional challenges while translating key characteristics of the cardinal—such as its crest, beak, and layered feathers—into architectural form.
Primary User:
Northern Cardinal
Residential Users:
Homeowners & backyard habitats
Educational Users:
Students, educators & wildlife programs
Cardboard Low-Fidelity
Quickly tested scale + proportions to lock the core silhouette
Plywood Mid-Fidelity
Dialed in structural logic and improved the architectural presence
Initial Prototype
Tested buildability + real-world function, revealing final form adjustments.
Final Design Resolution
Orthographic Views
Isometric Overview
Materialized Render
This form study translates key features of the cardinal—its crest, beak, feathers, and stance—into architectural geometry. Orthographic drawings and CAD modeling were used to refine these forms and connect the natural reference to the final design.
Biomimetic Form Translation
