Urban Beehive helps city-dwellers connect with nature

The Urban Beehive by Dutch electronics company Philips is a small indoor/outdoor apiary set into the window pane that allows city-dwellers to dabble in amateur bee-keeping and enjoy fresh, natural honey. Honeybee populations have declined in recent years, perhaps due to disease or the widespread use of pesticides, and the hope is to contribute to preserving the species and encourage the return of bees to urban areas.
 
The bees enter from the outside through a tunnel below a flowerpot for access to the honeycomb frames within. From the inside of the home, tinted glass allows people to observe the bees hard at work. In order to harvest the honey, smoke is released into the hive to calm the bees. Then, the cover is removed and a cord is pulled, allowing the honey to drip down.
 
The Urban Beehive offers an educational experience as well as a means for city-dwellers to connect with nature.  The device is part of the company’s larger Microbial Home design, introduced during the Dutch Design Week, which explores unconventional design solutions to energy, cleaning, food preservation, lighting, human waste and healthy living in the domestic environment.
 
While it is currently in the concept stage, we hope to soon see Urban Beehive popping up in our cities for bee-lovers to enjoy!

---

GALLERY