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Get a look at this beautiful giant yellow-tailed cockatoo. Fashioned from corten steel by artist-sculptor Folko Kooper, it’s just one of many nature-based artworks he’s been commissioned by Villawood Properties to prepare for the new St Andrews community.

Folko’s arresting sculptures are a hallmark of Villawood communities throughout the country. Wedge-tailed eagle, pelicans, emus, lorikeets, rosellas, owls, parrots are peppered liberally through its communities from Adelaide to Cairns.

They’re all about building a sense of place that’s linked to the local environment, to local bird, animal and plant life. They’re created in a warm and whimsical style, and many are very large, to capture the attention of kids and adults alike.

Folko’s been working with Villawood for 20 years, gracing its estates across Melbourne, Queensland, Geelong and Bendigo with large, eye-catching and evocative installations.

Folko met up with Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe  in 2001 at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Rory spied a 400mm sundial he had on show and asked Folko if he could make a two-metre version. He was staggered when Folko later presented him a sundial made of the metal rim of horse-and-cart dray wheels with brass arrows and lettering inside.

Folko’s been designing his masterworks for Villawood ever since and his works, many of them much larger, have become signature icons across Villawood’s communities. His works include an extensive fauna and flora catalogue of sulphur-crested and palm cockatoos, falcons, ibis, butterflies, dragonflies, penguins, wrens, lyrebirds, swans, bees, platypus, peacocks, roses, daffodils, oak leaves, tulips, grape leaves, sunflowers and more.

Made chiefly of corten steel, Folko’s works can also incorporate galvanised steel, bronze, stainless steel, polyethylene, polycarbonate, glass and perspex – even barbed wire.

Folko’s made three-metre-high stiletto heels with matching handbag, a family of giant emus, massive typographical sculptures with birds attached and innumerable gates, fences and screens. He’s created hybrid bird-airplanes, slightly bizarre but captivating bird nesting boxes and recently, a giant compass obelisk and bluestone suitcases to acknowledge immigrant families living in Villawood communities.

Folko is constantly researching and planning new ideas and never fails to surprise with his stunning works. Keep an eye out for some unique ideas he has in mind for St Andrews.