Honeycombs structure and geometry have fascinated architects and artists for a long time. Their geometry and mathematical perfection brought mystery and fascination. In architecture, honeycombs were an inspirational source behind the creation of a variety of forms and skins.

Fragmented Hives’ was initially conceived as a visual art installation for Sikka 2014 - Dubai. The project title and the morphology of the then installation derives its inspiration from the structural and design principles of a beehive. The honey comb structure of the beehive is a variation of the rhombic dodecahedron that minimises the surface area for a given volume. For a long time, scientists have been studying the bees extensively to understand how they thrive through simple communications and processes to achieve sustenance and complexity. Such systems are primarily driven by the requirement of optimising the process by using optimum resources to meet the vital requirements of the system to survive. These concepts have often been extended to our built environments and material properties to achieve strength, durability and adaptability.

The presentation by Zayad Motlib and Muhammed Shameel will discuss few theories behind the honeycombs formation. The installation set base for two other projects that were realised in 2015- Beehive 2.0 and AAVS ‘Scaffold Fabrication’. The 45 minute presentation will showcase the project development and its evolution in last two years.