New Jersey is currently facing a shortage of affordable housing. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates a shortage of over 200,000 residences, with the value of property and its allocation at the core of this crisis. This birdhouse provides a commentary on the current nature of our built environment, where the availability of shelter is a privilege rather than a human — or avian — right. This birdhouse installation is split into two distinct sides, with each utilizing the same lot space in discrete ways.

On the left, a single birdhouse evokes the aesthetic of the ostentatious “McMansion” commonly found now. Characterized by exaggerated proportions and inefficient use of space, this oversized structure heavily imposes on its side of the platform despite only serving one bird family. It illustrates the values of excess and exclusivity, offering comfort to the few while occupying a large space that could have served many. 

In contrast, the right side of the birdhouse features a dense cluster of smaller homes, stacked vertically and compactly. Designed in three different sizes in recyclable plastic to accommodate tree swallows, chickadees, and robins, these colorful, varied forms prioritize function and community to offer shelter to many within limited space. This complex doesn’t present a lesser aesthetic; rather, it elevates form and creates shared spaces for interaction.

The visual imbalance between the sides highlights the deepening divide in housing inequity and invites reflection on how we allocate space and resources. Density, while often feared, can foster sustainability, equity, and community.