THE BUMBLEPOT
Helping
bumblebees
The story of bumblebees over the past century has been one of decline. Two species became extinct in the UK during the 20th century, and a further eight species (a third of what remains) are currently listed on at least one of the English, Welsh and Scottish conservation priority species lists due to their large-scale declines in distribution.
So, considering the well-known importance of pollinators for life on this planet. I was asked to come up with a design proposal that will help increase the number of bumblebees or at least halt the decline of its population.
During my research, I found a fact that shocked me and definitely addressed my project. Since WW2, the UK has lost 97% of their wildflower meadows, a vital habitat that pollinators depend on for food and shelter. Between urban development and agricultural lands, we are leaving bees with very little natural habitats.
So, to help deal with this issue, I believe that safe bumblebees-friendly habitats should be provided within human environments. Bearing in mind that it is us who have left them practically without natural habitats, we must provide them with flowers to feed and safe places to nest in our cities - parks, gardens, terraces - as well as in the countryside - farming lands, road verges.
Following the brief's directions, I narrowed my design to domestic spaces like gardens, terraces and balconies, and more specifically in Dennistoun, my neighbourhood in Glasgow.
After doing a initial research to find out the best way to accomplish my proposal's goal, I have identified a few more design objectives beyond the scope of what I was originally given:
-
Safe for humans
-
Well-integrated into its environment
-
Educational
-
Sustainable
Objectives given
-
Weather resistant
-
Easily maintained e.g. seasonal cleaning
-
Providing shelter for nesting
-
Providing food for feeding
-
Avoiding accommodation/access for predators
-
Decorative
Objectives added after research
Ideation
Concept Designs
Based on the projecting elements of the facades of Victorian buildings
Based on the rodent burrows where bumblebees often nest
Based on Victorian lamps. Objects that decorated facades back then
Based on modern architecture, since the magazine Architecture Today sponsors the project
Users Survey
Design matrix to detect the idea that best meets the design objectives and, at the same time, to identify its weak points to develop
%202.png)
Bees entrances
Window basket holder. Material: Recycled Stainless Steel 304
-
Extremely strong
-
Corrosion-resistant
-
Durable
-
Fully recyclable
Window basket body. Material: PLA bioplastic
Three different flower planters made of PLA; a bio-based, biodegradable bioplastic that is close to being carbon neutral.
With the three planters, the colony that settles in my bumblepot will have enough flowers to feed on throughout its entire life cycle.
Ventilation for Convection
Nesting Chamber. Material: PLA bioplastic
Removable nesting chamber for easy maintenance
Press-fit Closure
The nesting chamber will be removed from the basket by simply pulling it upwards without opening it.
1mm diameter holes to
prevent parasites from
getting in
Bottom side
Also used for drainage
For the realisation of this project, the design process was fitted into a methodological framework that will provide us with an innovative output, completely focused on what the user wants and that will meet the design objectives that have been established
Ideation
Ideation
Prototyping & Development
The lines of development were determined by the weak points detected during the design matrix analysis, and extended by the detection of some design errors identified while modelling in SolidWorks. For the realisation of this development, further research was carried out and new sketch model built.
LANDING AREA
EDUCATIONAL ASPECT
PROTECTION AGAINST PREDATORS
INSULATION
LANDING AREA
After analysing the initial idea, some changes
were made in order to make the entrances
suitable Tree Bumblebees.
landing area
mini roof
To make their way in easier, a landing area was created spraying the walls and removing part of the roof
.png)
To cover the entrance and because Tree Bumblebees tend to look for holes under eaves or these types of overhanging roofs
EDUCATIONAL ASPECT
The best way to protect this species is to educate society and for this, I thought of incorporating a window through which people can observe the behaviour of these bees throughout their life cycle. This will create a special interest about bumblebees in both adults and children living in the flat.
Observation window created by a red transparent
panel just under the lid
Bumblebees cannot
see red light
NESTING CHAMBER BOX
Small projections to hold the panel
Recycled PMMA
Easily removed for cleaning
This change made me had to rethink another two aspects of my design:
-
With the possibility of people standing next to the nesting box to observe the bees, I need to avoid them feeling threatened by the human
Solution: Covering gaps
Longer way from the humans to the nesting chamber entrances
Gives the bees a false sense of safety that diminishes the threat
-
The press-fit closure integrated into the nesting chamber will lift the whole chamber if someone tries to open it for observation, which would be very disturbing for the bumblebees.
Solution: Double lid
Observation lid
Cleaning lid
Unlock/Lock
position
Bayonet lock closure. If you pull the ring up when the observation lid is unlock, you will lift only the new lid
PREDATORS
Through deeper market research, I found a really interesting study about how to protect bumblebees against predators and parasites like cuckoos bb and the wax moth, their main threat.
Adaption to my design
Pins to allow rotatory motion
Clear so bumblebees can see the entrance hole
A little notch to help them to open it
Very thin to minimise weight
INSULATION
Insulation was a feature quite well covered by the other initial ideas, so I decided to extrapolate some of the solutions adopted for this requirement in my other initial ideas. More specifically, I used rockwool like in the initial idea 3 to insulate the nesting chamber bottom face
According to BCT (Bumblebee Conservation Trust), it's very common that Tree Bumblebees make their way inside the roof of houses using existing holes to gain access. Once inside, these colonies will create their nest in or on the Rockwool type loft insulation. To simulate this, I will cover the bottom part with this material, making it a bit loose in order to facilitate them nest inside
This material is breathable but not absorbent so there will be
a gap of 5mm between the walls and the bed in case of water penetration
Final Prototype
.png)
Final Design
Final Solution
The BumblePot
Its shape imitates the typical projecting elements of the Victorian buildings
prevalent in this area of
Glasgow
The BumblePot is a sustainable product that
will offer safe habitats to bumblebees being
well integrated into the urban area of Dennistoun.
Available colours:
The BumblePot is very easy to install and assemble. And the entire product is made of recycled material.
The recycled plastic used for the basket body and the nesting chamber is composed of a proportion of LDPE, HDPE, PP and a UV stabiliser package to make the mix climate-resistant and UV stable.
The holder is made of recycled stainless steel 304.
Animation
Flowers to feed on throughout the lifespan of a colony
Tree Bumblebees' lifecycle is usually from March to July, so one planter will be for a flower that blooms in the early spring - when the colony is still small - and the other two for flowers that bloom between late spring and early summer - when the colony is at its peak.
Natural insulation
The nesting chamber between the three planters is naturally insulated by the soil stored in the planters. In addition, a roll of Rockwool will be provided to help with the thermal insulation underneath and give the bumblebees a comfortable and cosy bed on which to build their nest.
Planter 1
Planter 2
Planter 3
Nesting chamber space
Removable Nesting Box
The material selection and the fact of being removable make it very easy to clean
Animation
Handle
Recycled plastic. Compression process, moulding is preceded by an extrusion process
Observation lid
Recycled plastic. Injection moulding
Observation window
Red recycled cast acrylic sheet (3mm thickness)
Flap door
Transparent cast recycled acrylic (1mm thickness)
Against predators
and parasites
Cleaning lid
Recycled plastic. Injection moulding
Nesting chamber
Recycled plastic. Injection moulding
Ventilation
Holes in the floor and in
the top part of the side faces,
this box is ventilated by convection
1mm of diameter holes to prevent
parasites from gaining easy access to the nesting chamber
Double lid
Cleaning
Press fit lock closure
Observation
Bayonet lock closure
It is time to give the bumblebees back what we have been taking from them for decades
!
Let's create urban habitats for these pollinators!
Vertical meadows within the cities
This is a design intended for residential communities.
This will result in the building's facades being used to create vertical meadows where bumblebees will have flowers to eat and shelters to nest in. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Dennistoun get to see their streets grow colourful and decorated.
Contrary to what is on the market today,
The BumblePot is a community-focused design, that involves a larger number of people and therefore offers a solution on a larger scale.
Bumblebee Pack
+
+
The guide will contain information about bumblebees in order to learn about them, how to install the product on your window, some tips to avoid a risky interaction with the bees - how best to remove them if one enters the house and how to prevent them from entering in the first place - or the best types of flowers to sow.
WAYS TO IMPROVED:
- Add some text under ideation title
- Add animations
- Redraw the initial ideas (create a hover box so the pic make itself bigger instead of opening a new page) and ideation pages
- Cooler design matrix
- Igualar el formato con el de la ducha (donde hablo de dennistoun target market poner la foto del grafiti de colores)
- foto mia al final en la ventana
- ANIMATIONS / PIC OF ME IN WINDOW / BETTER DRAWINGS / FORMATO COMO EL DE LA DUCHA (MENOS TEXTO Y MAS IMAGENES)
To reduce the chance of them getting into the house, don't leave the window totally open during the end of May and June, when the colony is most active
Si encuentras una en tu salon por ejemplo, no panic. They use light to help them navigate their way out so close the door, switch off the light and leave the window open. they will fly out before you realise