Marc Cowan

The Hive

Over 500 hexagonal tiles created from reclaimed wood and coconut-fibre matting for the Southbank Centre’s Festival Village in London.

The space was designed as a hive-like cocoon for artists and performers of the Festival of the World to meet and exchange ideas. Sunk into one of the tiles in a resin cast is the Queen bee, alongside a clutch of bee-friendly plants and weeds which sprout from the floor as a subtle nod to the crucial connection between the bees and our environment.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped on the project, Barnaby Shaw of The Keeper’s Lodge for donating the bee and to architects Lyn Atelier and Tilt for their support.

Festival Village won the FX International Design Awards Prize for Public Space Schemes. Featured on The Culture Show.

Images 2, 5 and 6: © Jill Tate