Though our recent adventures in beekeeping ended in disappointment, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t still on the lookout for another honey-making alternative. After spotting this Urban Beehive from Philips on Uncrate we decided to take a closer look. The company known for its innovative lighting is now tackling another modern living project, the plight of the honey bee.
Part of the Microbial Home Probe, (which means it’s not for sale, just an idea at the moment), the urban beehive has two parts: an entryway and a flower pot on the outside, and a glass vessel containing honeycomb frames on the inside. The glass shell filters light to let through the orange wavelength which bees use for sight. The beekeepeer could access the honey with a simple pull of a chord. The hive can also be opened for inspection — though you’d need a smoker and an open window so you don’t fume yourself out.
If we lived in beautiful, glass walled apartment building in Manhattan — say one overlooking the High Line — we’d volunteer to test this out for real. It’s an intriguing concept, and one that is worth exploring. Something tells that bees may not keep the glass quite so clean (would they even like living in a glass house?), and one little flower pot may not work as a welcome mat — but still it has us buzzing.
Read more about the urban beehive concept at Philips.