Fokke Verburgh

A Nature Conservation Collaboration.

House Martins are small migratory birds that depend almost entirely on human buildings to nest. In Sweden, their population has declined sharply in recent decades due to habitat loss, modern construction methods, and decreasing tolerance fort heir presence in built environments.

As a response the Swedish Nature Conservation Society, Naturskyddsföreningen, requested a design-based solution to this challenge. The aim was to support the species while engaging the public in a direct and accessible way.

An Unwanted Roommate.

My master thesis. The project combined ecological research, prototyping, and user engagement to create a solution that is both effective and easy to adopt. Today, the design is part of Naturskyddsföreningen’s campaign encouraging people to help House Martins return and thrive in Sweden.

Made by Everyone.

Early encounters with nature play an important role in shaping how people relate to the environment over time. By involving children in practical, hands-on activities, care and curiosity can develop through direct experience rather than instruction alone. The Tetraholk is designed to support this kind of early engagement by making conservation something people do, not just learn about.
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Intended for use both in schools and at home, the nest follows a clear and simple instruction format that can be understood across age groups. Using only three milk cartons, a pair of scissors, and a stapler, the nest can be built with familiar tools and materials. The design and instructions are publicly available online, allowing anyone to build and install the nest, turning a small act of making into a shared introduction to conservation.