Trove

Trove is a birdhouse that provides a home for migratory birds like the while providing an elegant fixture to any tree or backyard. Manufactured from recycled pulp treated with waterproofed coating, it can be easily composted after the birds have finished nesting for the season

Status
Concept
Client
Migratory Birds

One of the biggest threat to migratory birds is the lost of habitat. Suburbanization has led to the decline in bird population and diversity.

With a researched understanding of the needs of the migratory birds, can we design a new birdhouse that is great for birds and attractive to homeowners?

Painpoints

Birdhouses accumulate nesting materials that can harbour bacteria and parasites every year. Maintaining birdhouses isn’t fun and could pose a biohazard to humans.

How might we make cleaning easier?

Needs of Migratory Birds - consideration of minimum volume, entry diameter, mounting location, predators

Human Usability - consideration of human user, ease of installation/maintenance

Mass Producible - material choice, manufacturing methods

Primary Target Market

Suburban Homeowners
Busy lifestyle (family/work), price conscious, wants some backyard diversity, low commitment (birdhouse)

Secondary Target Market

Park Conservations & Researchers
Economical, quick to deploy and maintain, birdhouses to help protected birds

With the problem and target identitifed, sketches were developed to explore possible solutions. Birdhouses with automated cleaning? Detachable birdhouse with a disposable casing? Fully disposable birdhouse?!?!

Inspiration for this bird house came from both geometric and organic forms. Effort was made to create a birdhouse that mimic the natural/manmade environment it would be installed at while providing adequate area for nesting. Material exploration into paper pulp molds proved interesting.

Early Prototypes

Working along with sketches, mockups and prototypes were made to explore different forms and sizes, methods of secure mounting as well as packaging.

While exploring forms and methods of manufacturing, I came across a molded fibre pulp as a cheap, fully compostable material of choice.

Research into molded pulp manufacturing techniques, waterproofing, and consulting professionals with experience in the development of EcoLogic's molded bottle lead to the final design of the birdhouse.

The paper pulp material was explored through found samples and creation of paper pulp prototypes with various additives.

Creating a looks like model of the final product, a block of high-density polyurethane foam was CNC machined according to the CAD data developed.

The machined bodies were then cut out, sanded smooth, and spray painted to resemble the textures of molded pulp.

The two halves are adhered together and mounted on to a FDM printed mount.

Features of Trove
Exploded viewManufacturing Details

Manufacturing Process

Pulping
Recycled post-consumer paper products  gets blended with hot water in a pulper, the celluose fibers of the paper seperates to create the pulp. The pulp is then screened through filters to remove contaminates
Forming
A formation tool decendeds into a vat of pulp, vaccum sucks the pulp through a stainless steel mesh. The pulp adheres and accumulates onto the mold as it lifts up onto the transfer mold
Pressing & Curing
The transfer mold tranfers the molded product onto a hot press tool where it is directly dried within. This cure-in-mold technique create the highest quality product and best surface texture
Post Process
Once dried, the water proof coating is applied on the product. The product is then stacked and packaged
*Illustrations adapted from pulp-tech.com
Birdhouse PackagingTrove - Assembly Instructions
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