Architecture Center Houston is proud to announce its upcoming exhibition, The Architecture of Bees, opening Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 6-8pm, and on view through Friday, August 26. Curated by architect and beekeeper Wendy Heger, AIA, The Architecture of Bees is an immersive educational visual arts exhibition that brings together designers, architects, naturalists, and beekeepers to illustrate the importance and influence of bees in human design and construction.

Human interest in honeybees dates back to prehistory, at least 15,000 years ago. Humanity’s study of bees over the millennia illuminated the brilliance of the hexagon shape found in their hives and nest design, their organizational and communication techniques, their thermal controls, and the role they play in pollination and the food supply.

Exhibition highlights include:

• A human-scale demonstration of "bee space," enabling visitors to walk into and experience the spatial dimensions of a beehive.

• A celebration of the hexagon – the fundamental shape which makes up honeycomb - the ideal shape for economizing labor and resources while maximizing storage volume and strength. The exhibition highlights examples of contemporary architecture employing the hexagon as a key construction and design component.

• A commissioned illustration of honeybees over Downtown Houston by architects and designers Amna Ansari, AIA and Marcus Martinez, AIA with Associates UltraBarrio.

• Methods of cooling and heating human homes and office buildings that find similarities within bee colonies. Bees have an amazing ability to regulate the temperature of their hives using their bodies.

• An explanation of the sophisticated and complex mass communication of bees, key to the success and survival of the hive. Worker bees use the “waggle dance” to communicate distance, direction, and quality of nearby nectar, directing workers to resources. A waggle dance pattern will wind its way through the gallery.

• A living beehive contained in a case.

The Architecture of Bees is accompanied by several public programs including bee keeping courses and pollinator walks in collaboration with Buffalo Bayou Partnership; a Biophilia and Bees lecture; and a beehive-inspired architectural workshop for kids.

More information on The Architecture of Bees exhibition, associated public programs, and other news from Architecture Center Houston may be found at www.aiahouston.org, or on Facebook at Instagram using #ArCHofBees.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Biophilic Design with Lida Lewis
Wednesday, June 15, noon via Zoom
You’ve probably heard the term biophilia—but do you know the framework of how to apply it?  Have you ever had eye-candy visuals inspire you to take it to the next level?  Do you know of examples across sectors where this thinking has been applied to stunning conclusions?

Join us for an image-heavy and intellectually stimulating look at 15 different dimensions of biophilic designs.  So much more than plants (though those are awesome too), the inspiration nature can provide is nearly endless, and applicable to any project.  Let us inspire you to build your next project with nature firmly in mind.
Register Here

Pollinator Walks in collaboration with Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Friday, June 24, 7am-8:30am
Saturday, July 16, 9am-10:30am

Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other creatures transfer pollen among flowers, enabling the incredible diversity of plants on our planet to flower and fruit. Dr. Gabriela Sosa, BBP’s Conservation Manager, and a representative from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, will lead you on a walk along Buffalo Bayou Park to identify those native plants and flowers that attract the necessary pollinators that the Buffalo Bayou ecosystem relies on.

Register Here

LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES
Cost for no lunch: $10 for non-members and $5 for AIA and BBP Members
Cost with box lunch: $25 for non-members and $20 for AIA and BBP Members
Architecture of Bees Lunch and Learns are organized in collaboration with Architecture Center Houston, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

The Buzz about Bees
Thursday, June 23, noon-1pm

Most people think “honeybee” when they hear the word “bee”, but did you know that honeybees are not native to North America? In fact, they are only one among nearly 4,000 bee species on this continent and Texas alone has nearly 800 species of native bees!

Nature historian Nancy Greig will teach you about these diverse creatures, and how we can help boost their numbers, in “The Buzz about Bees.”

Register Here

Gardening for Bees and Pollinators
Friday, July 8, noon-1pm

Pollinators such as bees and monarch butterflies are under threat. One of the ways to you can help is by planting a pollinator garden.  Paul Winski, Horticulture Agent of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, will show you the steps needed to create a bee-friendly habitat in your own backyard.

Register here

Beekeeping 101
Wednesday, August 10, noon-1pm

Interested in beekeeping, but need some information to get started? Shannon Dietz with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will show you the way. You’ll learn the basics of beekeeping including gear and tools needed, beehive components, and harvesting honey.

Register Here

Buzzz's Hive Design Workshop
Saturday, July 30, 9:30am-12:30pm
A building workshop for kids

A buzzing bee colony has reached capacity and is need of a new hive to accommodate the growing brood! Buzzz Bee, the resident bee architect has located a wonderful new garden along Buffalo Bayou teeming with flowers and trees. Working with Buzzz, students will plan, sketch, and build a model of a hive before presenting their bee-inspired designs to the group. Students will learn about the important role honeybees play in the ecosystem, and about their key design element – the hexagon.

Register Here
 

MAJOR SPONSORS:
National Endowment for the Arts
Innovative Environments
City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance

EXHIBITION DESIGN
Associates UltraBarrio

PROGRAMMING PARTNERS AND SPECIAL THANKS:
ASHRAE Houston Chapter
Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Heger Photography
Houston Beekeepers Association
Houston Botanic Garden
Houston Public Library
Lone Star Bee Company
Page (Art Chavez, Matt Vaclavik, Garrett Neubauer, Flor Barajas, Jamie Flatt, Elizabeth Smith)