Designed by local architect and beekeeper Frank Marcus, the Bijenpaviljoen – which translates as the Bee Pavilion – is a small structure assembled within the grounds of the picturesque Goffert Park in the Dutch city of Nijmegen.
Bio Based Pavilion
In the Dutch city of Nijmegen Frank Marcus conceived a pavilion to host beehives as to connected oval spaces, shaped as the atomy of a body of an insect.

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- 14 March 2016
- Nijmegen
Constructed for use by the Beekeepers Association, the building is a secure and tailored space which enables the group to manage their beehives and share their knowledge of the park’s diverse wildlife with the local community.

Inspired by the atomy of a body of an insect Marcus designed the functions, entrance, visitors space and apiary, as oval spaces behind each other on a center line, the North- South line. The sinuous structure follows predominantly from the park itself, Marcus blends the pavilion’s rounded exterior into the park’s landscape with its façade treatment, further integrating the -bio basedbuilding within the ecological surroundings.
Appearing to swell, the structure forms three separate spaces. Located at a pinnacle on the north façade, the entrance leads directly into the classroom. From there, the apiary – where the bees reside – can be accessed. An opening on the building’s south façade bathes the hives in direct sunlight throughout the day. Adjacent to the southern façade, a sundial spreads across the ground to mark the time of day as well as the season – emphasizing the importance of the sun’s movement on the life of bees.
Bee Pavilion, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Program: pavilion
Architects: Frank Marcus
Completion: 2016