Vulkan Beehive | Snøhetta

“Vulkan Beehives” are series of hives designed by the Norwegian architecture studio Snøhetta, located on the roof of a food court in Oslo, in order to let beekeeping and plant pollination take place in the city.
The architects of Snøhetta designed pair of wooden structure, taking the concept of honeycombs in form with hexagonal surface articulation, and in covering with hexagonal patterns.

Courtesy of Snøhetta

“The natural honeycomb geometry was our inspiration for the form and pattern,” said the architects. “Two intersecting hexagonal volumes create the form, which were then adjusted in height and width to fit with the need of the beekeeper.” “Using a light-colored wood with a finish that is honey in tone was also a relationship that we wanted to create and present.”

Courtesy of Snøhetta

In collaborating with beekeeper Heier Du Rietz, the designers house 160,000 bees. Bees enter through a small opening at the bottom of each hive, and they can easily find pollen and water from the surrounding green spaces.

Courtesy of Snøhetta

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