Transforming old tobacco curing barns into learning facilities.

The Bird Sanctuary has been developed with the aim to serve as a bird haven. It will first supplement the avian habitats that have been encroached on by human settlements and also serve multiple ecosystem functions.

Population growth and urban sprawl have encroached upon flat terrain, leaving birds and other animals without habitat. The “Bird Sanctuary” is designed to serve local communities and bird populations by reclaiming and reusing existing structures.

“If you want to see birds, you have to hide”. “Hiding structures” keep humans away and at the same time in touch with birds and nature, keeping wildlife near without fear.

The old police station is turned into the Bird Sanctuary’s main information center. It stands at the fulcrum of the site and is wrapped with an ecological skin made of palm branches, including slits for both children and adults to peek through the soft skin while camouflaging humans from the birds. Being three meters above the ground also gives visitors an opportunity to see the panoramic view of the bird haven.

Meditation Pods: Since locals enjoy bird hunting as a pastime, meditation pods for monks (Kuti) are merged onto the design strategy. The presence of monks clad in saffron-colored robes on the site helps to reduce hunting and human encroachment.

Bird rehabilitation facilities: Abused birds require time to recuperate. The rehab facility provides three protected habitats for injured water birds, small birds and birds of prey. The size of each protected area is designed with regard to three requirements: flight suitability, recapturing readiness and visitor visibility.

Site 1: Boutique hotel, learning facilities and home for injured birds.

Site 1: Boutique hotel, transforming old tobacco-curing barns into bird hospices.

Site 2: Everything happens within six meters.

Materials and construction techniques: Soft architecture, ecology skin.