A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland

The Bird Island House extends a warm, cozy perch to flocks on long-haul flights.

Text by

On Lac Léman in Préverenges, Switzerland, sits a newly completed cabin known as La Maison de l'Île aux Oiseaux—or the Bird Island House. The Lausanne ornithology club asked Swiss firm Localarchitecture to craft the structure as a rest stop for birds that fly from Africa to the arctic tundra in the summer.

A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland - Photo 1 of 10 -

According to the firm, "the architecture of the Bird Island House draws inspiration from the elegance of the bird world." Along the cabin’s exterior, bent, glue-free boards evoke the tension and delicateness of a nest while providing places for birds to take shelter. Inside, ogival CLT beams support the black zinc roof while creating an ornate design on the ceiling.

A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland - Photo 2 of 10 -

"Standing by the lakeside like a bird, the pavilion is raised above the ground on delicate metal feet in a way that references the lakeside situation, water, time, and travel," explains the team. The volume is wrapped with metal accents that help protect it from harsh weather conditions.

A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland - Photo 3 of 10 -

A large, curved ramp—reminiscent of a bird’s tail— leads to the main entrance. Inside, the cabin is a calming, minimalist environment clad in pale pine wood that contrasts with the darker exterior framing.

A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland - Photo 4 of 10 -

A box in the middle of the cabin subtlety organizes the space into two distinct sections. "The plan of the pavilion is simple," states the firm. "The functional box, like a wooden house-within-a-house, contains a small kitchen and toilets. It is aligned with the large, round window and can be seen from the exterior." Educational displays sit along the long, wooden shelves to spark the curiosity of passersby and encourage them to learn more about the building's purpose.

Shop the Look

Cabin Porn: Inside

Bookshop

Learn to make your own quiet place somewhere with this inspiring journey inside tranquil cabins and handmade homes, from the creators of the wildly popular Cabin Porn phenomenon. Cabin Porn began as an online project created by a group of friends to inspire their own homebuilding.

Shop

Maxim Lighting Dianne Mini Pendant

Lumens

A familiar theme with a fresh feel. The Dianne Mini Pendant by Maxim Lighting has a way of fitting in with contemporary or traditional décor. Its pear-shaped shade of clear glass suffuses brightness and is perfect for showcasing a vintage-inspired lightbulb (not included).

Shop

Vitra Eames House Bird

Design Within Reach

The Eames House Bird rose to stardom in the 1950s when Charles and Ray Eames pulled it from their own living room and positioned it with a group of Eames DKR chairs for a poster.

Shop

A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland - Photo 5 of 10 -

"The Bird Island House aims to raise awareness among the public and the region’s schoolchildren of issues around nature protection, the climate, and the impact of human activities on the loss of stopover sites for migratory waders," says the firm.

A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland - Photo 6 of 10 -

A Tiny Cabin for Migrating Birds Rises in Switzerland - Photo 7 of 10 -

Circular windows of various sizes dot the structure, referencing the design of typical birdhouses. "The large, round window is an eye-catching feature on the riverside walk," say the architects. "Like a camera obscura or a nesting box, this glass ‘eye’ gives this new public facility a strong identity and an attractive presence."