About BEEHIVE
The timeless appeal
of organic forms
Each individual Beehive is designed to be the perfect fit for its location and intended use. We do not use a single template and the only common thread is our signature use of natural cedar shingles draped over a softly shaped structure. Our buildings have the timeless appeal of organic forms, echoing the natural shapes, textures and materials of the landscape.
Beehive studios are unique garden buildings, ideal for use as an office, gym, guest suite, dining pavilion, or simply an oasis of calm in your own garden.
Under the skin
Super-insulated for year round use
The time-honoured craft of laying down a shingle roof, contrasts perfectly with the precision computer-controlled production of the internal ribs and fins that form the sub-structure.
These are specific to each Beehive. Our buildings are super-insulated, and are therefore suitable for year round use. Heating options are variable, from wall mounted electric panels to cosy wood-burning stoves. Internal finishing is completely flexible, from simple honest surfaces to highly crafted panelling.
A natural choice for a garden escape
The detailed bit
Quality build
Each Beehive is built to last, from quality materials. The stud work superstructure is made from kiln dried pressure-treated timbers, and the sheet materials are a combination of OSB (Orientated Strand Board) and structural birch plywood.
Walls, roof and floor are fully insulated with foil-faced PIR insulation panels. External walls are lined with a waterproof, breathable membrane prior to fixing the cedar shingles and vertical heat-treated interlocking cladding. The final finish/colour of the vertical cladding is your choice. A vapour barrier is applied to the walls and ceiling prior to fitting internal panelling, to avoid moisture penetrating the substructure. Windows and doors are double glazed and made from either hardwood or powder coated aluminium to suit the unique design and intended use of the building.
Roofing will be either EPDM (rubber) or GRP (glass reinforced plastic), depending on the building type.
The specification of lighting, power, and data provision is unique to each building, as is the heating specification.
The birth of The Beehive
Sympathetic to its surroundings
Our creative juices started to flow during Lockdown, when like many others, we had to work from home. Those of us lucky enough to have an outdoor space, thought a garden office would be the ideal alternative to a workspace in the house. Our research into garden buildings revealed a wide variety of options and price-points, but all were basically ‘boxes’.
Feeling that something more sympathetic to its surroundings would be preferable, we set about designing a soft and natural shaped building that would nestle into the garden, rather than shout from it.
Resembling a traditional ‘skep’ beehive, the choice of name was obvious.
Practicalities
In most instances, Beehive studios will not not require planning consent.
The type of foundation required will vary to suit the individual site.
Power feeds and water supply (if required) will need to be carefully assessed at the earliest practical point of the design and build process.
Costs
Unique studios
Beehive Studios do not attempt to compete with other garden buildings on price, as each Beehive is unique.
While some of the components of the superstructure benefit from the cost-efficiency of factory-built processes, the final product on-site relies on time consuming, hand crafted skills. However, to reduce site time and indeed cost, we endeavour to prefabricate as much as possible in the workshop.
The only restriction to the size and extent to which we can prefabricate, is access to the individual site.
Supply chain issues over recent years, have created serious challenges for setting fixed prices. Beehive Studios are all individual and are, therefore, costed as such. However, an indicative cost for a 4.5m x 2.9m building, complete with birch panel interior, wall panel heating and sliding door storage wall, is in the region of £63,000, including VAT.
An indicative cost for the 12.5m x 3.8m multi-purpose building with a raw particle board finish, is in the region of £105,000 including VAT.
Get in touch
To discuss your unique Beehive, contact us by email or give us a buzz.