tokyu bird house supports biodiversity across japan's densely populated urban settings

tokyu birdhouse creates urban habitats for biodiversity

The Tokyu Bird House is a small-scale architectural intervention aimed at supporting biodiversity by creating suitable habitats for the Japanese tit. The project has been conceived by Ryusuke Nanki in collaboration with Tokyu Land Corporation, an urban developer known for its commitment to ecological projects in central Tokyo, and Tendo Mokko, a renowned Japanese furniture maker.

Bridging their sensibilities, the birdhouse integrates human housing concepts with natural considerations to foster nesting in densely populated urban settings, with a simple wooden design. In February 2024, the design teams installed a series of Tokyu Bird Houses across commercial spaces in Tokyo and Yokohama.

birdhouses placed on building rooftop gardens | all images courtesy of Ryusuke Nanki

ryusuke nanki bridges furniture design and urban planning

The Tokyu Bird House incorporates high-performance, habitat-focused design features influenced by Tokyu Land’s extensive experience in real estate and ecology. Along with input from avian researchers and Tendo Mokko’s expertise, architect Ryusuke Nanki employs local, sustainable materials like sterilized cedar and cypress thinned from surrounding forests to achieve successful nesting and egg-laying. Consideration was also given to livability with oval rooms and maisonettes tailored to the shape of eggs and the needs of parent birds without space to step in conventional nests.

To withstand Tokyo’s bustling urban environment, the birdhouse is equipped with a seamless, one-piece molded roof produced by Mokko. This feature enhances protection from rain and wind, offering birds more resilient shelter than traditional, two-part roofing structures. Additionally, the use of highly water-resistant cypress wood, typically reserved for wooden baths, enhances the durability and longevity of each birdhouse, ensuring it remains a viable habitat over the long term.

an oval Tokyu Bird House set in a tree

Tokyu Land’s commitment to biodiversity is reflected in its ongoing ecological initiatives, including the installation of birdhouses across commercial developments in Tokyo to draw attention to local wildlife. The company leverages its expertise to expand biodiversity-focused projects in the urban landscape, integrating principles of conservation into its large-scale developments, particularly in the Shibuya area. This collaboration with Tendo Mokko emphasizes environmental stewardship by incorporating eco-friendly, surplus timber materials that support sustainable forestry.

The Tokyu Bird House project also offers a unique platform for scientific research. Researchers have been involved in the birdhouse development process from the outset, providing insights on optimal nesting environments. The project will serve as a valuable research resource in studying the impacts of urbanization on bird populations, with findings expected to shape future conservation efforts.

conceived by Ryusuke Nanki in collaboration with Tokyu Land Corporation and Tendo Mokko

built with input from avian researchers

the plywood ceilings of the Birdhouse can be easily opened for observation

modeled after the cross-sectional shape of a tree, with no corners

integrating human housing concepts with natural considerations to foster nesting in densely populated urban settings

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model study with a common thin plywood roof and a massive wooden room

the bird house was made using the techniques of Tendo Mokko

 

Tokyu Land has released the drawing data so that people can build their own birdhouses

project info:

name: Tokyu Bird House
designer: Ryusuke Nanki | @ryusuke_nanki

location: Shibuya, Tokyo / Yokohama, Kanagawa

residential planning/client: Daisuke Shinmei, Hiroki Akane, Nami Oyama (Tokyu Land Corporation)

design cooperation/production: Kaoru Moriyama, Naoki Kato (Tendo Mokko | @tendo_mokko)

supervisor: Wataru Kitamura (Tokyo City University)

creative director: Ryohei Manabe

planner: Tatsuhiro Nagashima

art director: Taichi Tamaki

copywriter: Iori Anegawa, Kosei Hirata

producer: Tansei Watanabe / dentsu, inc.

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom