The 250 Birdhouses project marked the beginning of what would later become the internationally recognized Happy City Birds initiative by artist Thomas Dambo. In 2010, while studying at the Design School Kolding in Denmark, Thomas came across a large supply of discarded wood—an abundant resource that resonated with his deep commitment to sustainability and creative reuse.
Before this project, Thomas had been actively involved in the graffiti community. Through that experience, he became keenly aware of the contrasting public attitudes toward street art in Denmark. While some embraced graffiti as a vibrant form of expression, many others perceived it as vandalism. In response to this divide, Thomas sought a new form of urban art—one that would be both accessible and universally appreciated.
This led to the idea of crafting birdhouses from scrap wood—each one a miniature, functional sculpture designed for public space. As Thomas often puts it, “Not everyone understands graffiti, but even my grandmother understands birdhouses.”
He built 250 birdhouses at his school in Kolding and embarked on a two-week tour across Denmark on his Christiania cargo bike, installing the birdhouses in various urban locations. Some were placed individually, while others formed larger sculptural installations. Each piece served as a gentle and joyful invitation for people to engage with their surroundings in new ways.