The City as Nature Reserve and the BeeTotems for RefuBees project, is a collective achievement, realised through shared efforts with a holistic vision, prioritising circularity and up-cycling as essential principles.
Key partners facilitate the development of innovative 3D printing techniques. David van der Veldt from Veldtwerk provided crucial technical guidance and 3D design. As 3D printing technologies are still evolving, the partners in the BeeTotem project have taken substantial financial and technical risks. The team at HB|3D bv executed the printing of the structural parts. Their visionary approach breathed new life into the project. Printing the BeeTotem structural parts poses a considerable challenge: utilising a five-axis converted robot arm borrowed from the auto-mobile industry, a rotating and swivel platform and a sophisticated script. Remarkably, recycled plastic bottles mixed with pigments were employed as base material, marking an unprecedented feat in complexity within the Netherlands, and possibly on a global scale.
Naturalis (Dutch Nature Museum) contributed specimens of the 104 wild bee species found in Amsterdam. Sebastian Schmelzle and Michael Heethoff from TU Darmstadt’s ecology department collaborated, utilising state-of-the-art 3D microscan equipment for precise scanning (28.000 photos per specimen) and processing of the bees. The resulting digital files formed the foundation for crafting three-dimensional prints of the bee species. The BeeTotem’s hyper-realistic bee sculptures, magnified 12,500 times, are a creation of Vincent Koning from 3D Orbit.
Collaboration with Cruydthoeck De Heliant, the largest organic native plant nursery in the Netherlands, has been invaluable. Likewise, Ninabel’s expertise in supplying organic plants conducive to bee attraction and her knowledge of proper proportions and planting have contributed significantly. Spring Music, an independent music label led by composer and cellist Ernst Reijseger, orchestrates an enchanting ambiance during openings, making each event unforgettable.
Further we like to thank Stichting DOEN, TUDelft, BNG Cultuurfonds, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, The City of Amsterdam, Fonds voor Oost, The City of Burghausen, Artifex and The Blindpainters Foundation.
