Honey Suite – IGA 2017, Berlin

If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left.
No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.

Albert Einstein

No life without bees

We cannot live without bees. The theme park wants to raise the visitors’ interest for this issue and to dispel any doubts. What does a bee need in the garden? How can we implement this in a private garden?

The shape of the surfaces, planting beds and the garden enclosures alone put you in the perfect mood for this topic. The shape of the hexagon serves the layout as a connecting and pictorial element. Modernity in both material and form is used to contrast with the close-to-nature ecological character of the garden.

The garden’s center features a hexagonal garden seat made of fresh concrete with a polished surface. Consisting of large hexagonal concrete block slabs, connections with an acidified surface lead the visitors through the garden. The surface does not have any steps so barrier-free access to the show garden is provided to any visitor. An alveolate “sky mirror” is situated next to the garden seat – a thin film of water flowing over a dark stone, creating a mirror.

Especially rich in nectar and pollen, the plants can be used by the visitors in their gardens.  Although the plant beds are located on different levels, visitors in wheelchairs can also smell the flavor of smaller plants and view them up close. In addition to plant beds with especially bee-friendly plants, the park also has miniature or “nibbling garden” plant beds for bees. There is a biodiverse, lavishly blossoming flower meadow with three sculptural apple trees spread on it.

A hive for honey bees is located on the edge of the garden. Other insects live in insect hotels that have been created in several spots of the enclosure. A water stone serves as an abrevoir for insects. A pan in the abrevoir gives the bees and other insects the possibility to land near the water and to drink.

The garden is lined by light, thin-gauge concrete wall elements and transparent-seeming wooden elements in the shape of a honey-comb. Some honey-combs serve as insect-friendly illuminators for the garden. These honey-colored elements give the garden a warm and cosy atmosphere.

The bee garden offers modern design while meeting highest ecological requirements. It is a sustainable house garden offering an abundance of local species.

Click to see the bee garden of the international horticultural exhibition IGA and to look through the web cam in the horticultural exhibition “Gardens of the World”.