Birdhouse Design Challenge - Architectural Institute of British Columbia

Call for Submissions: Birdhouse Design Challenge
A Free-flying Opportunity for Inspired Designers

The Architecture Foundation of British Columbia (AFBC), in conjunction with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC), invites submissions from architects, interior designers, building designers, engineers, nature lovers and anyone else with creative flair for the Birdhouse Design Challenge.

Birdhouses offer free accommodations to countless bird species. They also offer delightful decorative elements to gardens, urban spaces and balconies.

Your challenge: turn your creativity loose to design a birdhouse that will be the envy of the flock.

The Birdhouse Design Challenge is meant to:

• Support the Architecture Foundation of British Columbia (AFBC)
• Inspire B.C.’s design community through a unique challenge of avian proportions
• Promote the messages of wildlife preservation, ecological awareness and sustainability.

How the Birdhouse Design Challenge Works
The challenge is to design and construct an avian domicile that is functional, innovative, aesthetically pleasing, adaptable to either rural or urban settings, and suitable for either single or multi-generational families.

Each home should take into account the clients for whom it is intended, and make use of dimensions appropriate to that species.

Each birdhouse must be free-standing and ready for use.

Dimension Parameters
height: between 8” and 2 ft
width: between 8” and 2 ft
depth: between 4” and 2 ft (not including stand or suspension).

In keeping with the principles of sustainability and eco-friendliness, designers are strongly encouraged to use environmentally-sound, natural materials as much as possible.

Please include a project description – the story behind your creation.

How to Participate
This is a unique opportunity to showcase your free-flying imagination and soaring creativity – all for a good cause.

Up for the challenge? Just fill out the attached Birdhouse Design Challenge Participation Form, also available online at http://www.aibc.ca/birdhouse.

Deadlines
Completed participation forms are due at the AIBC by Friday, March 14, 2008.
Completed birdhouses are due at the AIBC by Monday, April 21, 2008.

All individually crafted birdhouses will be displayed at the 2008 AIBC Annual Conference (Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, April 24-26, 2008). They will also be shown in the AIBC Gallery (June 1 - 24, 2008), then auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the AFBC.

The AIBC reserves the right to make any final decisions regarding the suitability of the exhibit and auction materials. The AIBC also reserves the right to publish birdhouse-related photographs in print or electronic form. Thank you for supporting the AFBC and the AIBC.

Let your imagination soar!

For more information, please contact the us at:
E-mail: communications@aibc.ca
Tel: 604 683 8588 ext. 331; Toll free in BC: 1 800 667 0753