The Cleveland Botanical Garden and the American Institute of Architects Cleveland recently collaborated to hold an exhibit featuring surprising and whimsical birdhouse creations designed by local architects. The exhibit, aptly named “For the Birds: Architect-designed Birdhouses”, opens on Friday, June 10 and will run until Sunday, October 1. Around 20 professionally designed birdhouses will be on display.
The birdhouses are nestled in 10 acres of outdoor gardens. The entries include four birdhouses by students from Kent State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design in the historical styles “shingle/stick,” “prairie and beyond,” “modernism” and “postwar suburbia.”
Architect Steve Kordalski created a house in a style he describes as “traditional in a contemporary fashion.” He laughingly recounts how he was surprised to learn that there are actually very specific instructions on the Internet on how to build a wren house, with details about the size that the hole needs to be and the depth from the hole to the floor to dissuade predators.
“I didn’t know that,” he admitted.
Of course, the exhibit is primarily for fun and public enjoyment, but it also serves a fundraising purpose. The houses will be auctioned on eBay from Monday, September 12 to Tuesday, September 20. Proceeds will benefit the architects group and the garden’s various programs.
