what a cool idea! i’d love to see something like that hanging outside in my neighborhood.

the minimalist black and white probably fits better in a cityscape, but it would be interesting to see how woodgrain or other earthy patterns for the bird turf could juxtapose the urban atmosphere as well.

It’s inspiring that something gang related and inspire such a beautiful design. Love the thought of turning something negative into something positive, and this is a great example.

Also love the “P.S” about how they got their name. That cracked me up!

can*

I like the look of the design, but wouldn’t they knock against each other in the wind, which may scare birds from using them?

I love their rationale for the name!

These are cute! Maybe false advertising if you’re not a drug dealer (which is what people do the shoe thing for in my metropolitan area) but a clever idea nonetheless.

Brilliant.

I like the bird house, but the idea that the shoe hanging is part of “gang” culture is actually wrong.

Power lines are usually found in poor neighborhoods. The hanging of the shoes is done by ALL children. Not gang members. It just so happens that these neighborhoods (the economically and socially at risk neighborhoods) are often the ones with gangs or drug activity. However, even neighborhoods without gangs have shoes hanging from their power lines. Its a normal thing for kids try to be mischievous and try to “claim their space”. There is nothing negative about their behavior. I feel that perpetuating myths such as these is dangerous both to those who live in said areas and those who want to visit said space. I wish the designer would have investigated more thoroughly before naming their product. (birdturf is cute… but the story behind it is wrong.)

interesting how these have the EXACT SAME CONCEPT as these birdhouses that inhabitat blogged about almost 2 years ago…
http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/10/09/resolution-4-birdhouses/

Hey all! Thanks for the feedback and commentary. We’re always thrilled to get outside perspectives on the work. Small addendum, the birdhouses are meant as a commentary on the “urban myth” of turf-marking. We are aware that this typology is open for interpretation and has been exploited by many different cultures, individuals and designers. Thanks for the inhabitat link - weren’t aware of it, but definitely can see similarities, as different as our individual intents may be.

similarities? really? it’s identical to the inhabitat concept. I don’t see a difference in the individual intent at all - only the shape.