The Bird Table

Fred Guttfield´s work explores the contested territory between technology and nature. He designs ‘Natural Amplifiers’ which highlight the necessity and beauty found in nature and natural behaviours. The Bird Table is his latest project. Fred explains: “The current garden bird feeder is a typical example of design in spite of nature. The bird feeder exhibits few natural characteristics but as a result of regular interaction with local birds begins to condition the birds to Pavlovian levels.’ Using a combination of observation and parametric design methods the ‘Bird Table’ went through a number of iterations to behave not just in response to the birds that interacted with it but also to human and wider environmental factors. In this way the table has developed its own behaviours, moods and rhythms in tandem with the ecology in which it is sited.”