With bee populations dwindling and researchers still working to find answers, architects in the UK are showing their support for insect populations in London city parks by designing luxe bug hotels! British Land and The City of London Corporation just announced a shortlist of five designs in their Beyond the Hive competition for bug hotels that will now be built around the city in hopes of buoying insect populations with sustainable habitats. Starting June 18th, the public can start voting for their favorite design which will be awarded a "Golden Beetle" award along with a juried winner during the London Festival of Architecture.
The five shortlisted designs provide homes for various insects found in the city and include everything from skyscraping bug towers, landscape and garden installation, a mountain chalet, and luxury bug hotels. The five competing firms and designs include: the Insect Hotel by Arup Associates; Brookfield Bug Buddies by Brookfield Europe and the Pinnacle team; Bumblebee City Nesters by Fisher Tomlin; Inn Vertebrate by Metalanguage Design; and Beevarian Anstel and Gretel Chalet by German Women in Property.
British Land and The City of London Corporation hope that these new bug hotels will attract and support stag beetles, solitary bees, butterflies, spiders, lacewings, and ladybirds. Each design is currently under construction at five different parks around the city (Bunhill Fields, West Smithfield, Postman’s Park, St Dunstan’s in the East and Cleary Garden), and will be on view to the public starting June 18th. Love this competition and want to get in on the action design your own bee and bug hotel? Check out this roundup of DIY bee hotels and help support insect populations.
[...] over 250 bird and bug boxes available in the stunning sculptural art installation, birds can choose from a range of shapes and [...]