Recently spotted at the Gentse Feesten, an annually held music and theater festival in Ghent, Belgium, this beehive-like structure is a cozy alternative to the uncomfortable camping and overpriced hotels during festival times.
B-and-Bee is a mobile, modular, and stackable sleeping cell developed by Achilles Design and One Small Step, and produced and operated by social entrepreneurs Barbara Vanthorreof Compaan and Ron hermans of Labeur. The structure consists of hexagonal sleeping cells, each containing a comfy king-size bed that can transform into a lounge seat, with storage space underneath. The larch wood-clad cells are installed with lockers, lights and a power supply. Up to four cells can be stacked in a diagonal line, which can accommodate upto 50 visitors on an area of 100 square meters.
Roll-up fabric covers are provided to protect the inhabitants from harsh weather conditions or simply provide privacy. The upper cells can be accessed through a lightweight metal stairs designed in a way to prevent blocking access to any of the units below.
After 12 months of constant research & development and prototyping, the first six cells were finally launched at the Gentse Feesten in Ghent, Belgium. B-and-Been was developed using durable and low eco-footprint materials and also created jobs for the socially and economically challenged workforce in Belgium.
B-and-Bee is a great example of socially and environmentally responsible industrial design.
