Environment

Would You Keep Bees in Your Apartment? Maybe You Would With This Artistic Hive

Who wouldn’t want the comforting buzz and sweet smell of honey — not to mention fresh supply — that comes from being a beekeeper their city dwelling apartment?

Urban Beehive Promotes Growth of Bee Population With Benefit to Apartment Dwelling Beekeeper

(Photo: Philips)

The “Urban Beehive” modernizes the traditional beehive in an artsy, ready-for-display design. According to Popular Science the “Urban Beehive” is designed by Philips Microbial Home Probe project, which seeks to challenge the “conventional design solutions to energy, cleaning, food preservation, lighting and human waste.”

PopSci describes the Urban Beehive as two parts that attach to your apartment window:

A white frontispiece with a flower pot and a small hole for bee entry, and an orange-hued glass inverted teardrop mounted inside your house. This way you can see the bees at work, and access their honey via a small spigot. The glass teardrop has an array of honeycomb frames for bees to build their wax cells, like existing honeybee colony kits do. The shell is orange to help the bees navigate, and there’s a small hole for the urban beekeeper to release smoke inside, should the hive ever need to be opened (smoke chills out the bees).

Urban Beehive Promotes Growth of Bee Population With Benefit to Apartment Dwelling Beekeeper

(Diagram:Philips)

According to Philips, three parties benefit from this contraption. The city benefits with an increased bee population to pollinate plants. The dwindling bee population has a new place to begin colonizing;  it “encourages the return of the urban bee.“ And humans benefit from the honey and ”the therapeutic value of observing these fascinating creatures in action.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a decline in bee populations were first observed in 2006 and have continued to drop since. Fox News reported bee populations have been declining at a rate of 30 percent each year.

Comments (54)

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  • Musashi
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:43pm

    I had a pretty good chuckle over this one.

    I am a beekeeper and run a small beekeeping business selling Honey, Bee Pollen, Beeswax, Propolis and Skin Care products.

    This urban beehive is…..uhh…….unworkable. There are so many problems with this I’m not even sure where to begin.

    I get a lot of people who come to my markets and are wonderfully concerned about the dwindling bee population and want to have a beehive. The beekeeping supplies companies are doing quite brisk business. The fastest growing segment of new beekeepers are urban beekeepers. I am an urban beekeper myself.

    I do not subscribe to the rampant fear mongering about africanized bees. In Florida, where I am it is a concern, but the chances of you running into a pure Africanized bee are about nil. They’ve been interbred with native bees and European queens that beekeepers keep. Nevertheless bees are NOT cuddly as a kitten. The average beehive can contain 60,000 bees or during some times of the year many more! Bees can and will attack you if you catch them on a bad day if you go monkey’ing with their hive. A bit of smoke isn’t a panacea either. A few hundred beestings can kill most people and even a few dozen can get you hospitalized in serious condidtion.

    You would have to go into the beehive and process the capped honey sections. This means you have to open this beehive INSIDE your home! Whoever thought this up clearly has not even talked to one beekeeper.
    Not an X-mas present, trust me

    Report Post » Musashi  
  • jlfonz
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:26pm

    I wonder how much Bee Hive insurance costs? You know alot of these big city apartment dwellers are dolts when it comes to nature.

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 10:45am

    Bees are the good guys. Without them we would have a really hard time raising crops. I am for more hives eveywhere…..but an apartment.

    Report Post »  
  • AB5r
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:13am

    Here is a link to Philips pdf file that includes several products in this line including some sort of methane digester and a larder for keeping food outside a refrigerator. The pull cord on the bottom is not for getting honey, that is the smoke actuator to calm the bees, presumably you have to open it to get to the honey like a normal hive. The link in the pdf goes to more info on the bee hive.

    http://www.design.philips.com/shared/assets/design_assets/pdf/news/Annex_Microbial_Home_concepts.pdf

    Report Post » AB5r  
  • mastice
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:10am

    Good idea, I do applaud the designer for coming up with an interesting and unique idea. But wait till people start actually putting it in their windows in urban areas. You KNOW someone will complain about it either ‘falling out’ or ‘the bees swarming and stinging’ or the old ‘allergy’ argument.

    It’ll start with certain apartment buildings banning them then move to city council hearings… and eventually they will not be allowed within an urban setting. Watch and see.

    Report Post » mastice  
  • xstone1970
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:05am

    Here is what will happen.. someone allergic to bee stings will get stung, they will blame you.. some lawyer will have the bee genetically tested and link it to your urban hive and you will be sued for millions. If he got stung by a random wild bee, no issue, but now you are liable.

    Report Post »  
  • Cat
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:00am

    Simple instructions for installing your new ‘Urban Beehive’ in high-rise residences:

    1. Using a diamond cutting auger bit, drill a ½” diameter hole through a perfectly good piece of thermal glass
    2. Mix provided epoxy compound using two parts base to one part catalyst
    3. Using a perfectly good plastic spatula spread epoxy mixture sufficiently to cover ¾ of the back surface of the interior housing
    4. Press the interior housing into the wet epoxy while simultaneously inserting the inlet tube through the hole in glass
    5. Hold the interior housing until epoxy mixture cures (about 1 hour)
    6. Secure swing stage equipment in accordance with OSHA requirements to exterior of building
    7. Repeat step 3 and 4 to secure exterior housing to glass
    8. Use swing staging to place flower in exterior potholder
    9. Wait for bees

    Report Post » Cat  
  • Survivor101
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:54am

    False advertising for starters…I wont even touch how honey has to be extracted – not poured (and placed through screening to get rid of other matter like dead bees). What a hoax and of course, because it is in the city – your bees (wonder if it comes with a queen) will never be vulnerable to the same ills killing off other bees. BTW – next time you put insecticide on your roses or other plants – your probably killing the bees too.

    Report Post »  
    • teddyc73
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:46am

      Why so pessimistic dude? Did it ever occur to that maybe this company is trying to make a genuine attempt to restore the bee population? Perhaps all the details are not worked out or perhaps they design is not 100% full proof or may it does exactly what it say it does but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.

      Report Post »  
    • RightThinking1
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 10:08am

      Unless one has spent time keeping bees, one may not grasp the level of involvement required to do so. It isn’t difficult, but it requires a certain level of attention and involvement. It is not simply a matter of tapping off some honey now and then.
      The picture of the chick in a nice clean dress, in pristine space, is very appealing, but that’s a little like showing someone enjoying a nice fried chicken leg. It leaves out the more involved part.
      Personally, I hope it works. I like bees, and honey. But it has a kind of slick ‘catalog item’ about it that makes me wonder if it isn‘t ’just in time for Christmas’.

      Report Post »  
  • Shrugged
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:38am

    It is an interesting idea to bring hoards of bees to the urban areas – except like all “environmental” theories, is there a big enough foodsource there to sustain these populations? Small urban areas with close proximity to open land – perhaps. Large cities? Doubtful.

    To me, it’s like dropping a 100 people off on a desserted island and watching them starve to death.

    Report Post »  
  • MaxineH20Sux
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:26am

    If it worked it would be a cool idea ( my son would love to watch this), but not a good idea since something could go wrong. I will leave beekeeping to the professionals :)

    Report Post » MaxineH20Sux  
  • Gzeee1969
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:22am

    After going to the site, I can only hope that I’m composting somewhere under a tree before their idea of a “cyclical eco-system” is a standard way of life!

    The bee hive is cool, but the squattin’ crapper thing is way to 3rd world. I can just see me gettin’ half way thru a movement and my knee goes out! And even worse that freaky/creepy Apothecary thing….WTH?????…Great, now I would have to worry some bored, 13 yr old punk hackin’ in to my home health database just cuz he can!!!!!!! Screw that… So Long and Thanks for all the Fish!

    Report Post » Gzeee1969  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:21am

    .
    When it fills up with Killer Bee’s, make sure you flim the attack……….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Gzeee1969
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:45am

      Ha…Ya know, if they put four or five in that house where they film that Jersery Shores show, I’d probably watch it….That would be some great reality TV right there, yes sir!

      Report Post » Gzeee1969  
  • Ialmostforgot
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:10am

    Yeah, I’m gonna put one of these right next to my upside down tomato plant grower!

    Report Post »  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:29am

      LOL Great compairson! I once kept bees “the old fashioned way” and when reading this article, I thought “What the hell?!?!” Bees have to be treated for mites and disease. There seems no way to open the hive to do that (but maybe there is a way I just don’t see).

      As far as “opening the spout” at the bottom to take out honey — bull!
      Bees place honey into wax cells and SEAL THE CELL CLOSED with wax.
      To harvest honey, one must cut off the top of the cell! — the honey drains out by gravity or has to be spun out in a machine.

      I think this must cost $10000 and no refunds — because I don’t see how in the heck it could work. It might work for awhile as far as observing bees — but honey? Get real.

      Report Post »  
  • danenut6
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:05am

    Not to mention many towns have outlawed the keeping of bee hives. . .

    Report Post »  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:40am

      Really? I wasn’t aware of that. That is stupid to do. Honeybees are so beneficial to the environment and if a beekeeper actually tends the bees, there shouldn’t be danger of Africanized bees. I know there are lazy (crazy) people everywhere, so an ordinance that anyone keeping bees had to be certified makes much more sense.

      Report Post »  
  • sheria-never
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:59am

    I do love this idea, but I can’t understand it.

    How do the bees get inside?

    Do you have to drill hole in your window? Will someone please explain this to me.

    Report Post » sheria-never  
  • txmike
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:30am

    Years ago our family vacations always included a stop at one of the many Nickerson Farms that dotted the highways. The first thing I would do is to go look at their bee hive.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickerson_Farms

    Report Post » txmike  
  • Starkadder
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:01am

    Well since this is a product most likely to be purchased and used by a tree hugging enviroterrorist commie hippy, might I suggest an Africanized queen for your colony? Then I suggest you install it with the flower pot on the inside of your apartment. You know, so you can uhh…smell the flowers yea thats the ticket….smell the flowers….yea.

    Report Post » Starkadder  
    • Will4Freedom
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:22am

      I’m sure they are an expensive piece of plastic, but I would love to have one of these. I don’t fit your description in the least, though. Sorry to disappoint you.

      I think my young grand kids would love to watch the bees work and they do like honey.

      Report Post »  
  • Santafeconservative
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:57am

    It’s a nifty idea…if it would only work. Funny how it comes on the heels of a press release that disparages store bought honey.

    While I was wondering about the dispensing mechanism (also thinking about bee crap in the honey) I was also thinkng about all those citified neighbors with their expensive terraces not appreciating a neighbor with a beehive.

    Report Post » Santafeconservative  
  • Brae
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:28am

    The design is beautiful if you want to look at it; but it is riddled with flaws and will not work.

    Report Post » Brae  
    • coleman984
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:38am

      That is because it is multiplicative, not additive. Meaning if you start with 100 bees, after the first year you lose 30% of them you have 70 bees. The next year you lose another 30% you now have 49 bees, the following year you would have 34.3 bees, the 4th year 24.01 bees and the 5th year 16.807 bees.

      Report Post »  
  • mauijonny
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:22am

    “According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a decline in bee populations were first observed in 2006 and have continued to drop since. Fox News reported bee populations have been declining at a rate of 30 percent each year.”

    OK; maybe it’s just me, but a 30% drop over 5 years is 150%. That aside, I think it’s a cool idea as bee populations are in trouble and we do need them, plus I think it’s beautiful. And remember, we could have thought the same way about electricity or driving around with explosives in our gas tanks – oh, wait…we did…Just sayin’

    Report Post » mauijonny  
    • loriann12
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:19am

      I would love to have my own bee hive. Of course, I would also love to raise chickens. My son (the science geek) would love to watch them. and I’m not a tree-hugger. God did tell us to be good stewards of this land.

      Report Post »  
    • RRFlyer
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:52am

      That’s 30% of the remaining. Not 30% of the original number,

      Report Post »  
  • jb.kibs
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:49am

    The Bee Population decline is because of Monsanto BTW.

    Report Post »  
    • mauijonny
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:07am

      Really? Proof, please. From what I’ve read, it’s from mites.

      Report Post » mauijonny  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:32am

      LIE by the greenies “The Bee Population decline is because of Monsanto BTW.”
      They keep posting that it’s “suspected” to get people to think badly of Monsanto. Nothing ever proven.

      Plus, bees have two types of mites and several diseases — can’t blame that on Monsanto either.

      Report Post »  
    • khandahar&jalalabad
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:37am

      Not proven, bees rarely get pollen from corn. They don’t prefer it, only if there is a dearth and pollen is less available.

      Report Post »  
    • DisgustedWithSociety
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:57am

      basic culprit has killed the bees—Bayer Corporation. CCD is poisoning with a known insect neurotoxin called Clothianidin, a PESTICIDE manufactured by Bayer, which has been clearly linked to MASSIVE bee die offs in Germany and France.
      >>Clothianidin = neurotoxin
      The first clue that Colony Collapse Disorder was a simple case of poisoning — similar to the DDT bird kill-off decades ago — was when clothianidin was used on corn crops.
      At first it was only the honeybees that were decimated — then the bumblebee populations began to disappear. Bumblebees are responsible for pollinating an estimated 15 percent of all the crops grown in the U.S., worth $3 billion, particularly those raised in greenhouses. Those include tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. So Mites and diseases are a factor — it is a SMALL issue compared to the Genetically Modified products that Monsanto produces. Chemical warfare is a never ending issue too — these companies make up the Chemical to irradicate one thing — making another immune causing the distruction of our planet, rivers, drinking water processing plants. Monsanto makes the human population THINK that they are all about the survival of our planet when in fact you are being brain-washed to buy these dangerous items.********STOP BUYING Monsato products !! Ambien Insomnia Medication (drink ONE glass of wine), Roundup (sprinkle Epsom Salt), Genetically Engineered Soy & Canola Products & Ingredients are Roundup Treated — (try organic instead E

      Report Post »  
  • Scaz
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:31am

    This has got “BAD F@#KING IDEA” written all over it. The time it will take for the first lawsuit resulting from a broken hive indoors can almost be timed on a stop watch.

    Report Post » Scaz  
  • canknucklehead
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:30am

    Follow the Phillips Microbial link. It gets way weirder. I’m talking another planet, weird. These people should seek professional help.

    Report Post »  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:51am

      omg.. the squating toilet.. these people are insane, this is all stuff for the NWO…

      Report Post »  
    • kwolfburg
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:11am

      Hey, this is Philips-Norelco. This company makes tv’s, razor’s, extc.
      Scary

      Report Post »  
  • Eleedy
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:54pm

    I can’t wait for the viral video of the first one of these things to spring a leak and let loose a swarm of bees in some chicks uptown pad… oh, the humanity! I’d pay to watch that!

    Report Post » Eleedy  
    • 1389AD
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:31am

      So would I.

      Oh, and by the way, bees don‘t like living in structures where they can’t control the ventilation.

      Report Post »  
  • Midwest Blonde
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:21pm

    Who ever thought this up is strange….. To say you can access the honey thru a small spigot – the designer has NO idea how the honey is stored – and it ain’t stored in a way that the spigot will dispense honey.

    That being said, I sort of like the idea but I’m allergic to bee stings. There‘s no way in hell I’d ever put one of these in/near my home.

    Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:52am

      exactly… lol, this was obviously designed by some city dwelling college shmuck.

      Report Post »  
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