If there’s some lasagne left over from dinner, we offer the leftovers to our neighbours. But our neighbours aren’t just the family in the house next door – they’re also the birds in the trees outside our window.
Based on this idea, we developed a bird feeder that makes good use of food leftovers whilst also fostering an encounter between people and nature. Our research showed that we often fail to consciously notice our immediate surroundings – we forget who all our neighbours are. With our bird feeder, we therefore wanted to create a moment of connection, providing a space for mindful observation whilst feeding the birds.
Leftover bread can be placed into a flat wooden feeding tray via a specially shaped funnel. We chose wood for the feeding tray as we wanted to create a natural and stable surface on which the birds can eat in peace.
In our initial sketches, we explored various options for the mounting, the shape of the funnel and the feeding process. We opted for a curved tube to make it easier to feed the food downwards. After creating an initial prototype out of cardboard, we designed the funnel shape digitally and produced it using 3D printing.
We also designed a holder for the feeding tray, which attaches to the bottom of the funnel, thereby simplifying assembly. For the tube holder, we drew inspiration from the design of a drinks holder and the natural structures of a leaf, which can be seen as a detail on the surface of the holder.
The additional engraving ‘Nourish your Neighbours’ points towards the person feeding the birds. It emphasises our message – just as we look after our fellow human beings, we should also look after our animal neighbours.
