Buildings used as dwellings for pigeons can be found all over the world. Here, we show pigeon houses from Isfahan, Iran, as an example.
Isfahan once had around 3,000 pigeon towers where pigeon dung was collected. These impressive structures attracted thousands of pigeons, providing them with shelter. The collected dung was highly valued as fertilizer for agriculture. The clay towers featured unique architecture, with numerous niches for pigeons and decorative yet functional entry zones designed to keep predators out. This allowed the pigeon population to thrive in a protected environment. Today, many of these towers remain visible, serving as fascinating examples of sustainable resource utilization.
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Fig. 1-3: Drawing by Pascal Coste
We are Andrin Bührer and Marko Peric, two designers based in Zurich and Basel. Grounded at the intersection of product design and architecture, our work focuses on relevant future urban topics. Our shared philosophy is based on a research and idea driven design process. We believe that creativity can address issues facing metropolitan societies.
The project pigeonblock is ongoing since 2022. Our expertise in the field of pigeons and their behavioral characteristics is based on Marko’s former pigeon keeping of over 120 birds. Further we have conducted historical research and held discussions with experts from the field, the collected knowledge inspired our design process. @___andriin___@pericmarko
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Fig. 1: Photo by Silas Gotsch @silasgotsch
Fig. 2: Photo by Marko Peric
Guano - White gold from bird droppings
Pigeons first appeared around 12,000 years ago. They were kept in large numbers in pigeon towers and later in lofts. Pigeons served as a source of food, while their feathers and down were used to make pillows and blankets. Their droppings, known as guano, became highly valued as an excellent fertilizer for agriculture - white gold.
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Fig. 1: Photo by Lucien Mahin
Columba livia forma urbana
The pigeons we encounter in cities today are domesticated versions of the rock dove (Columba livia), a wild pigeon known for its adaptability and resilience. Its natural habitat consists of cliffs, often in coastal areas, where it prefers to breed on ledges and in small caves. This background explains why city pigeons choose breeding sites such as window ledges. Originally kept by humans, city pigeons have since become partially independent. In Europe, they would have been common as far back as Roman times.
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Fig. 1: Photo by Angelo Wagan
Fig. 2: Photo by unknown
Fig. 3: Photo by Fraser Cottrell
Facts and figures
Name: Feral pigeon / City pigeon - Scientific Name: Columba livia domestica / Columba livia forma urbana - Species: Rock dove - Family: Pigeons
Plumage: Grey, with a metallic green-pink shimmer on the neck - Song: Deep cooing - Sounds: Clapping sounds when taking off, distinctive whirring noise - Migratory Bird: No - Food: Seeds, food scraps, bread, insects, snails, larvae - Predators: Humans, peregrine falcon, goshawk, eagle owl, crow - Navigation: Always finds its way home - Vision: Very sharp, up to 35 km in color and UV light - Sex Identification: Males are slightly larger Size: 31–34 cm - Wingspan: 60–68 cm - Weight: 240–300 g - Speed: 80–120 km/h - Endurance: Up to 1000 km per day - Mating Behavior: Monogamous
Parental Care: Shared equally between parents - Lifespan: 8 years - Nesting Site: Buildings - Incubation Period: 17–19 days - Breeding Seasons: 2–4 per year - Clutch Size: 2 eggs - Nestling Period / Time to Flight: 35–37 days
