Architects Design Luxe Bug Hotels For London Parks

With bee populations dwindling and <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7778401/Mobile-phones-responsible-for-disappearance-of-honey-bee.html" target="_blank">researchers still working to find answers</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.britishland.com/responsibility/beyondthehive" target="_blank">Beyond the Hive</a> 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.

<h3>Inn Vertebrate</h3> </br> The Inn Vertebrate was inspired by the diverse architecture of London, and is a multi-story habitat with different size holes and spaces for various invertebrates. Constructed from recycled and reclaimed wood, bricks and off-cuts found in surrounding areas, this bug inn will be located at Bunhill Fields surrounded by wildflowers that will be donated by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. <a href="http://www.metalanguagedesign.co.uk/" target="_blank"><big>+ Metalanguage Design</big></a>

<h3>Brookfield Bug Buddies</h3> </br>Brookfield Europe gathered up the various consultants to design this bug tower, which will be built from pipe work of different widths and lengths sourced from the Pinnacle project. Hilson Moran Partnership assessed the environmental impacts, while Arup Structures checked out the structural design, DP9 advised on possible planning considerations, and children at local secondary school, Sir John Cass, will source the local materials. Brookfield Bug Buddies will be located at Postman's Park. <a href="http://www.brookfieldeurope.com/" target="_blank"><big>+ Brookfield Europe</big></a>

<h3>Bumblebee City Nesters</h3> These eco skyscrapers for a bug's world were inspired by the towers of London and utilize modular construction to create various sized buildings - anything from a simple B&amp;B to a Burj Khalifa Bug Tower. A grouping of five towers ranging in heights will be located at West Smithfield and constructed from recycled materials including recycled timber, recycled broom poles, and garden and building waste. Two local schools will help construct the towers which were designed with solitary bees in mind, but can also provide a home for other insects. <a href="http://www.andrewfishertomlin.com/" target="_blank"><big>+ Fisher Tomlin</big></a>

<h3>Beevarian Antsel and Gretal Chalet</h3> </br> This traditional German chalet was designed by “German Women in Property” to commemorate their recent excursion to London and is built for visiting insects from mainland Europe. Designed as a typical Bavarian mountain chalet, the bug inn will be built from reclaimed bricks to attract solitary bees, rotten logs for invertebrates, louvered boxes filled with bark for hibernating butterflies, a log drilled with holes for ladybirds and eaves filled with bamboo for lacewings. The Beevarian Chalet will be located at Cleary Garden.

<h3>The Insect Hotel</h3> The Insect Hotel is a classic take on the structure of an urban hotel with multiple levels and a interesting facade based on a Voronoi pattern. The hotel is constructed from 25 layers of birch plywood with voids cut out using CNC, which will be loosely stuffed with recycled waste materials and deadfall for various bugs to make their way into. The sides of the hotel are accessible for butterflies and moths, and the top is suitable for absorbing rain water through planting. The Insect Hotel will be found at St. Dunstan's in the East. <a href="http://www.arupassociates.com/AAH_News.asp" target="_blank"><big>+ Arup Associates</big></a>