BIRD by Kristen Vedel is an affordable modern architect led Danish design classic, that would fit into any home.
I’ve been thinking about minimalism for some time now. Of course minimalism means many, many different things to different people. All too often people take it to mean stripping down your possessions to a bare minimum and living a existence in a bare monk like cell. That sounds way too uncomfortable for me, as well as very impractical as the nature of my job means that I need quite a bit of equipment, as well as props.
At its essence minimalism is about less stuff, be it physical, mental or things you have to do. I find too much of this amorphous stuff intensely stressful, as well as energy sapping, and have been working hard to dump it, delegate it, get it done sooner or not acquire it in the first place. I don’t think it is matter of better organisation, which seems to help with the stuff problem, but in reality is just a coping mechanism.
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful
– William Morris
With regard to the physical stuff, I think William Morris was spot on, and one of the reasons that I am never going to live a pared down existence is that I like beautiful things. They uplift, refresh, inspire and energise me.
One of my favourite possessions, are my pair of BIRDs, designed by Danish architect Kristen Vedel. They are undeniably simple, but beautifully designed to be so expressive. Made from two pieces, the body can be turned either way up, the head can be rotated or tilted to completely change the bird’s character and mood.
Bird is made by ARCHITECTMADE, a Danish company making and selling household objects designed by architects. As you would expect their designs are sleek, modern, minimal as well as beautiful.
Kristen Vedel (1923 – 2003) was a graduate of the Danish School of Arts and Crafts, he lectured there after gradating, spent four years from 1968 working at the university of Nairobi, before retiring to Denmark.
Vedel designed the family of BIRDs in 1959 – in two sizes, parent and child, as well as a shorter, squat grandparent bird. Originally only the smaller bird was made, and it became one of the most popular Danish wooden products from the1960s.
Nowadays the whole BIRD family is made by ARCHITECTMADE, a Danish company making and selling household objects designed by architects, they use a specialist woodturner to make the birds, in both natural and smoked oak.
By turning the bodies the other way up, the birds can be male or female, and you can tile the head in any direction, expressing a huge range of emotions, happy, sad, quizzical, sleepy etc. I find it quite astonishing just how expressive they can be.
The three BIRDs (chubby not photographed, but I so want one to complete the family) are available in natural and smoked oak at £39/£49/£59 each. An affordable investment piece you will have forever.
My BIRDs were personal gifts which I wanted to share.
Laura Wilson says
These are just gorgeous. I have somewhere some 1960’s wooden birds that sit on a glass, they look just like these but with a small groove to fit on a glass edge! I wonder if they are related in some way? I love their simplicity but also love that the heads alter to change the look, just fab!
Jen says
I’ve seen the type of birds you have, not sure of their origin; but certainly a similar look.
Jo says
They are beautiful. I love birds so am drawn to them anyway. They’re very simple but gorgeous. It makes me want to ‘minimise’ my house and just have a few special ornaments on display.
Jen says
I do love the simplicity of the design, so simple yet so effective.
Jon says
Wow they look amazing! They remind me of the woodpecker from Bagpuss!!
Jen says
Yes, gosh I remember Bagpuss. Professor Snaffle or such like.
Talya says
Love these birds they are so simple and quirky thanks for sharing!
Jen says
There is something simply wonderful about them isn’t there.
Sophie says
I’m in love with these birds! I have a lovely affair with Scandinavian minimalism <3
Jen says
They are very wonderful aren’t they.
Ana De- Jesus says
So true the definition of minimalism is always open to interpretation, for me it means a state of mind as well as a representation of simplicity x
Jen says
Absolutely. For me the chaos of Motherhood and such has created such disarray in my house, that I crave that part of me that wants things back to “normal”. Whatever normal is. I’m still wondering.
Fashion and Style Police says
These are so beautiful. They would look great in my home.
Helen says
I am collecting the entire family!
Anosa says
This is my first-time to see architecture birds and I liked all the designs! I agree with you as it suits on the minimalistic designs. Simple and elegant pieces.
Helen says
I adore them. So simple, but also so expressive.
Kara says
They are adorable. I always worry about ornaments with kids about but these look pretty sturdy
Helen says
If you threw them onto a tiled floor or stamped on them they might come to grief, but I think that dropping on to a carpeted floor would be fine. Even standing on, but it you caught the beak at the wrong angle it might snap.
Charlotte says
These are so lovely! I definitely need to work on living a pared-down existence, I am a bit of a hoarder :p
Helen says
I’d so much rather have fewer nicer things.
Baby Isabella says
What a beautiful miniature sculpture. My mummy could do with adopting a more minimal lifestyle!
Helen says
I think we all need to be more minimal.
Lindsey says
What beautiful birds, they look truly divine
Helen says
I love them so much.