THEY rise up from the Armstrong Mount Duneed water as stark other-worldly structures, looking mediaeval, Nordic, even a little like something from a 1950s sci-fi movie.<\/p>\n
But these things of metal and timber, and grey and brown, are both refuge and sentinel, and magnets for the rich birdlife to be found at Villawood Properties\u2019 Armstrong community.<\/p>\n
Renowned sculptor Folko Kooper has built a clutch of the whimsical but carefully targeted birdhouses as the latest addition to a striking collection of signature Kooper pelicans, eagles and cockatoos already at Armstrong.<\/p>\n
They feature internal nesting boxes specific to local species such as wood ducks, corellas, Major Mitchell cockatoos, rosellas and lorikeets and boobook owls.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a barn owl nesting box, as well, in\u00a0case we get lucky and platforms on the way for cormorants or herons,\u201d Mr Kooper said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe birds are endemic to Geelong and its surrounds, there\u2019s quite a bit of research went into them and the birdhouses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe internal nesting boxes are all bird-specific and made by an enthusiast in South Australia who supplies national parks, councils and so on with nesting boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The birdhouses, a stone\u2019s throw from the Surf Coast Highway, are part of the community growth and community art imperatives in Villawood estates across Geelong and Melbourne.<\/p>\n
The Armstrong Mt Duneed community is current\u00a0holder of the Urban Development Institute of Australia\u2019s Best Masterplanned Community award.<\/p>\n
The birdhouses sit some five to six metres above the ground resembling multi-storey mediaeval houses and castle towers, and host artistic flourishes such as cockatoos and parrots, metal hat-like tops and flowering creepers.<\/p>\n
Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe said the birdhouses were aimed at engendering curiosity in the environment and artpositive pursuits for a young growing community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Armstrong area hosts about 60 species of birdlife and Villawood is very attuned to the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis occurs in all our developments, from our water systems and housing to our walking trails, recycling, and our protection and preservation of native species.<\/p>\n
Art is a great and enjoyable way to help\u00a0further pursue these important elements within the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cFolko has done a great job, yet again, in helping Villawood raise the bar for important community art in residential developments.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THEY rise up from the Armstrong Mount Duneed water as stark other-worldly structures, looking mediaeval, Nordic, even a little like something from a 1950s sci-fi movie. But these things of metal and timber, and grey and brown, are both refuge and sentinel, and magnets for the rich birdlife to be found at Villawood Properties\u2019 Armstrong […]<\/p>\n