A few weeks ago we reported a competition in the UK to design five-star hotels for British insects. It turns out that English gardens have been far too well kept over the last few years and the local parks department is having a difficult time maintaining an insect population. As a result the native flora and fauna are starting to suffer. The design competition was launched not necessarily to develop new ideas for “Bug hotels” as they’re called (the “technology” if you can say that for them already exists) but more to make existing methods appear more pleasing to the [human] eye.
Yesterday the shortlisted 5 teams were announced. We don’t have much information about each project but here’s what’s on the bdonline site:
The five shortlisted projects will now be built and the public, as well as the judges, invited to vote for their favourite between June 19 and 28.
The Beyond the Hive competition, run by British Land and the City of London Corporation, sought proposals for an ecologically sustainable and creative insect habitat.
The hotels were designed to attract stag beetles, solitary bees, butterflies, spiders, lacewings and ladybirds and will be built at Bunhill Fields, West Smithfield, Postman’s Park, St Dunstan’s in the East and Cleary Garden, all in the City.
The shortlisted projects are: the Inset 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.
Two “golden beetle” awards will be presented – one to the winner of the public vote and one to the judges’ favourite – during the London Festival of Architecture.
Sue Ireland, the corporation’s director of open spaces, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the high standard of design and presentation that went into all the entries.
“Ultimately this will enhance the City’s biodiversity, through the provision of well-crafted, sustainable and beautiful insect hotels.”
To vote after June 19 visit www.britishland.com/beyondthehive
Image: Brookfield Europe and the Pinnacle team.
Image: Metalanguage Design
Image: Arup Associates
Image: Fisher Tomlin
A small team at Animal Architecture submitted a design that wasn’t shortlisted but, well we thought it worth sharing here anyhow. If any other entrants would like for us to share submitted designs please forward them along with a description to info@animalarchiteture.org.
Image: Animal Architecture
Image credits: bdonline, Animal Architecture, Arup Associates, Brookfield Europe and the Pinnacle team, Fisher Tomlin, Metalanguage Design, and German Women in Property.
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