For the Birds

Since graduating in December, I have been taking time to step back and consider what's next for Pop Up Lunch. In the meantime, you may have noticed that I have been broadening out blog coverage to include related design bits and random acts of awesomeness that people are doing on their own to make the city better.

In honor of the premier of Lost's final season last night, today we go into the wild and look at a great story about a few people who are rolling up their sleeves and getting it done.

This is a very cool project going on at the Gowanus Canal, where a group of scrappy architects and designers who call North Carolina home are building and installing bird houses by hand. The Canal Nest Colony started out as an entry in a 48-hour design competition, sponsored by Urban Omnibus, and has taken on wings from there.

Not only do the houses look great, but each one has been tailor-made with the nesting needs and wants of specific types of birds in mind. According to a friend involved with the project, next steps include a potential partnership with the Audubon Society of NY and additional design development in partnership with the Gowanus Conservancy.

A special call out to the graphic designer, Andrew Nicholas, behind This City i$ Mine. I am really taken by his pictures and oh look, he now has a book out.