Comments on: Animal Wall by Gitta Gschwendtner http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/ architecture and design magazine Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:37:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: DavidC http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-329270 DavidC Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:03:10 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-329270 Oh, and yes, we did carry our a research review to assess what species were likely to occur in the area, both historically and in the present day, and the design parameters of the boxes (shape, dimensions, hole diameter etc) were specified for individual species which occur in the area today and which might reasonably be expected to use a nest-box in this location and situation. Oh, and yes, we did carry our a research review to assess what species were likely to occur in the area, both historically and in the present day, and the design parameters of the boxes (shape, dimensions, hole diameter etc) were specified for individual species which occur in the area today and which might reasonably be expected to use a nest-box in this location and situation.

]]> By: DavidC http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-329250 DavidC Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:48:24 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-329250 Some of the comments above are very ill-informed and are clearly not from ecologists! Fouling was considered, but as Gitta says (above) nesting birds typically do not foul around their nests as this attracts predators: the adults actually collect the chicks' droppings and dump these well away from the nest site. Bat guano is very small, dry, blackish, inconspicuous and has no detectable odour, reducing to dust very quickly, so is unlikely to be noticeable. The probability of adverse smell or appearance around the wall is very low. Mixed nesting by birds (and roosting by bats) is commonplace - just look at your nearest woodland or maritime cliff-face (the wall was designed with the latter in mind). It is not expected that all of the boxes will be used in any one year, and a proportion are likely to be used on rotation in each year. It is not necessary to provide nesting materials to ensure uptake - who do you think goes around providing nesting materials in the wild? Take-up of new nesting boxes may not occur for up to five years or more after installation, usually after a suitable period of weathering. The boxes will be monitored to see what the actual take-up by birds and bats is. Some of the comments above are very ill-informed and are clearly not from ecologists! Fouling was considered, but as Gitta says (above) nesting birds typically do not foul around their nests as this attracts predators: the adults actually collect the chicks’ droppings and dump these well away from the nest site. Bat guano is very small, dry, blackish, inconspicuous and has no detectable odour, reducing to dust very quickly, so is unlikely to be noticeable. The probability of adverse smell or appearance around the wall is very low. Mixed nesting by birds (and roosting by bats) is commonplace – just look at your nearest woodland or maritime cliff-face (the wall was designed with the latter in mind). It is not expected that all of the boxes will be used in any one year, and a proportion are likely to be used on rotation in each year. It is not necessary to provide nesting materials to ensure uptake – who do you think goes around providing nesting materials in the wild? Take-up of new nesting boxes may not occur for up to five years or more after installation, usually after a suitable period of weathering. The boxes will be monitored to see what the actual take-up by birds and bats is.

]]> By: designgurunyc http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-316221 designgurunyc Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:15:44 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-316221 a wonderful idea , but had more research gone into it it may have had more real use. I question the motive of design over function and wonder really if the spreading and mixing of all the designs of boxes was a wise one. Time will tell which boxes are inhabited and which species actually tolerate each other. In my (limited!) experience of nature, species like to flock with their own sort, and within that ,even, hold some sort of territory dear to them. I hope this has all been considered in the final build and that the species were actually considered more important than the way it looked. a wonderful idea , but had more research gone into it it may have had more real use. I question the motive of design over function and wonder really if the spreading and mixing of all the designs of boxes was a wise one. Time will tell which boxes are inhabited and which species actually tolerate each other. In my (limited!) experience of nature, species like to flock with their own sort, and within that ,even, hold some sort of territory dear to them. I hope this has all been considered in the final build and that the species were actually considered more important than the way it looked.

]]> By: tiffany http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-315608 tiffany Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:22:50 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-315608 The idea is super but the way executed.... like a socialistic concrete apartment block. But hey, at that time people where happy with those apartment blocks. Maybe the birds are happy with this one. And they get better over time... The idea is super
but the way executed…. like a socialistic concrete apartment block.
But hey, at that time people where happy with those apartment blocks. Maybe the birds are happy with this one. And they get better over time…

]]> By: Gitta http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-314830 Gitta Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:59:57 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-314830 A quick note to all of you worried about bird poo, this is obviously something that has come up during the project as well. I have worked very closely with an ecologist on this project and as it turns out, birds and bats keep the area around their nest very tidy, dropping attract predators. A quick note to all of you worried about bird poo, this is obviously something that has come up during the project as well. I have worked very closely with an ecologist on this project and as it turns out, birds and bats keep the area around their nest very tidy, dropping attract predators.

]]> By: b. v. http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-314429 b. v. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:57:32 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-314429 a very powerful design... quite stunning the final impression it makes.... a very powerful design… quite stunning the final impression it makes….

]]> By: yrag http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-314286 yrag Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:32:58 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-314286 To me, though it looks somewhat grim, I find it has a real power and modern beauty in it's sculptural design. To me, though it looks somewhat grim, I find it has a real power and modern beauty in it’s sculptural design.

]]> By: Flynn Talbot http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-313996 Flynn Talbot Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:58:49 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-313996 Goano bowls, collect the whole set! Goano bowls, collect the whole set!

]]> By: Matthias http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-313844 Matthias Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:22:05 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-313844 A LeCorbirdsieur, Cardiff Unit. Crime rate among the inhabitants is going to be literally sky high. A LeCorbirdsieur, Cardiff Unit.

Crime rate among the inhabitants is going to be literally sky high.

]]> By: onvn http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/comment-page-1/#comment-313828 onvn Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:07:31 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2009/08/28/animal-wall-by-gitta-gschwendtner/#comment-313828 Actually, It'd be interesting as to what it'll look like after it's been covered wth bird poo.. The textures could be amazing.. wouldn't want to stand near it though..! Photos would be enough! Actually, It’d be interesting as to what it’ll look like after it’s been covered wth bird poo.. The textures could be amazing.. wouldn’t want to stand near it though..! Photos would be enough!

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