Modular beehive mimics the shape of trees

This new design will help bees to stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer

Spotted: The new beehive design gives the 150-year-old box set-up a much-needed update. Designed by German startup HIIVE, the organic shape provides bees with the comfort of a tree cave, one of their most common natural habitats. The conical shape also solves one of the main challenges facing bees each year: how to stay warm in winter. 

Natural tree hives are much easier for bees to heat, therefore removing a significant stressor on their survival. HIIVE’s hives are designed with a similar purpose in mind. The natural shape of the design also helps a colony naturally withstand parasitic health scares. This reduces the number of chemicals that are required to keep each hive healthy. 

The hives are made from recycled plastic, hemp wool and sawdust, and the two-chamber system makes it quick and easy for beekeepers to remove honey without disturbing the bees. 

The company is currently developing the accompanying app which will assist beekeepers with tasks including health checks and alerts when a swarm is likely. Ten prototypes are currently being tested in the field, and the team says that commercial production will constitute the next step. Interested beekeepers can sign up for the waitlist in order to be notified as soon as hives become available.  

Other means of keeping bees healthy that Springwise has spotted include a sustainable hive made from mycelium and green roofs on bus stops in the UK that help increase local biodiversity.  

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