Bird Watching Shelter (Construction Week)

Brief and Client

The project had two clients:

1. Environmental Tutor (Sophie Ioannou)

2. School pupils aged between 4 and11.

The brief was to design and build a bird watching shelter, more commonly known as a bird hide, which would be stable, attractive and inviting. This is one of many environmental projects taking place in the school, in an attempt to encourage outdoor activities.

We were divided into a group of 9 and had a two week deadline to complete the structure.

Location

A woodland area located on the grounds of St Joseph Primary School, Highgate Hill, Islington and adjacent Whittington Hospital.

Site

The nature reserve is a linear site, with a relatively flat contour, which then slops steeply toward the hospital. The site has many trees, which must remain and be incorporated into the final design. The woodlands has two access routes, one leading from the children’s playground, which is only unlocked under adult/teacher supervision and one leading from the main road, this too remains locked, opening only for large deliveries on site. These entrances are both at the the same end of the long linear site. The school propose to add an addition access way on the opposing side of the current existing openings, which we should attempt to cater for in our design.

Design Development

Before sketching initial ideas, we meet with some of the school pupils who handed us drawings of their own ideals, illustrating common themes and features they wanted incorporated into their bird shelter.

Taking these ideas in to account, along with our own sketches and concepts, we identified and listed the following design requirements:

-Fit a minimum of 4-6 occupants aged 4-11, at one time

-’Camouflage’ and blend the shelter into its natural environment

-Use natural, low impact and some recycled materials

-Provision for bird feeders, baths and houses

-Include seating

-Educational and interactive areas

-A place where you can be both sheltered and yet exposed to the nature

Design Concept and Process

The design was based on the idea of 'Hide and Seek'. The ‘Hiding’ would take place in a semi enclosed curved structure, which provided protection from the wind; with an open roof, covered by the over hanging trees, which would give you a degree of shelter from the rain. The ‘Seeking’ would take place on the externally attached deck, which extends into the main shelter providing seating space.

Along the pathway ‘knowledge walls’ would be incorporated, for the children to put posters of birds, bird feeders and any other work the teachers and students want to exhibit.

Materials and Budget

We were given a £600 budget to purchase the following materials:

• Concrete: Sand, cement and aggregate
• Steels x 30
  
• Flat steels x 2
• Willow to cover 25-30sqm
• OSB boards x 2
• Recycled timber
• Bolts
• Screws

Issues:

The price of steels were more expensive than anticipated, meaning that we had to remove the ‘knowledge walls’ and in its place increase the length of the primary shelter.

However, it was the willow which caused the most problems for the following reasons

1. Extremely expensive

2. Not in season and therefore the amount needed was almost impossible to get hold of

3. The willow had to be soaked for up to five day, before it would be flexible and strong enough to use.

We therefore decided to weave using thinly sawn wood, which we would cut from timber boards.

Construction Process

After presenting and then receiving client approval and completing the required risk assessment, we ordered the materials needed and could begin the construction process:

1. Bending of the Steels
We had to prefabricate the steels, bending them at the university work shop. Using the steel schedules produced we were able to calculate the correct number of steels needed and bend each one accurately.

2. Digging

After marking out the position of the 20 holes, we began digging down a meter deep, as suggested by the engineer. After breaking through the soil, clay and 10mm of concrete found from old foundations, we began digging the trench, connecting the holes together, to provide more strength and support to the steels once the concrete was poured.

3. Placing of the Steels

The steels were then carefully fitted into the holes and held in position, whilst the cement, sand, aggregate and water were being hand mixed.

4. Concrete pad foundations

The concrete was then poured and vibrated to reduce the possibilities of air bubbles and to insure that mix had travelled to the bottom of the holes. It was then left to set.

5. Steel Ring

We connected the steel ring at an angle, to 10 of the steel columns. Once the concrete had set, we realized that the steel ring was not adding any additional strength to the structure and instead ruined the aesthetic of the bird hide. It was removed.

6. Decking

Using timber off cuts, we were able to make a simple deck structure along with a handrail. Using templates we were then able to jigsaw the OSB to size and drill into the decking structure.

7. Weaving

The timber was cut into thinly sawn strips of approximately 30mmx100mm. Horizontally weaving in and out between the steel frame, with additional strips of timber placed vertically, provided a supportive cladding.

8. Windows and Edges

Timber strips connected vertically with bolts, produced window frames and connected loose, rough edges together.

9. Clean up

We then cleared the site, levelling the floor soil, removing leaves and marking out places that the children would be able to incorporate their own work done through out the year i.e the bird feeders.

Bird Hide