Grobund: Insect Hotels & Urban Biotopes – A New Vision for Sustainable Architecture

As cities expand at an unprecedented rate, natural ecosystems are under immense pressure. The Grobund - Insect Hotels & Urban Biotopes project, designed by Slava Ivanov and Marius Costan, presents a groundbreaking approach to sustainable architecture by introducing urban benches and modular biotopic structures that enrich both the built and natural environments. Honored with an Honorable Mention at Urbanscape 2018, the project exemplifies how design can become a catalyst for biodiversity and climate resilience.

The Concept: Urban Furniture Meets Biophilic Design

Grobund redefines urban furniture by merging it with ecological infrastructure. Each bench doubles as an insect hotel, offering nesting spaces for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and ladybirds. These structures not only support urban biodiversity but also create vibrant gathering points for people. By combining biophilic design principles with everyday seating, Grobund transforms leftover urban spaces into sustainable green hubs.

Modular Structure for Flexible Urban Use

The design relies on a modular system made of three primary elements:

1. Perforated Shell Base – Lightweight, recycled material that allows insects to enter while protecting interior layers.
2. Inner Containers – Compartments filled with natural nesting materials suitable for various insect species.
3. Top Layer – Dual-purpose seating surfaces or vegetation covers, enabling comfort for people and microhabitats for plants.

This flexibility allows the benches to be installed individually or in clusters, creating scalable networks of urban biotopes across the city.

Climate-Responsive and Sustainable Materials

Grobund emphasizes low-carbon architecture by prioritizing recycled and reusable materials. The lightweight structure reduces CO2 emissions during transport, while durable seating elements made from beech wood resist decay and extend longevity. By integrating vegetation into seating design, these urban nodes also help manage stormwater and mitigate the heat island effect.

Insect Hotels: Architecture for the Unseen

Unlike traditional urban furniture, Grobund provides a direct response to the decline of pollinators. Each bench functions as a living insect habitat, supporting:

• Solitary bees through bamboo and drilled wood inserts
• Butterflies via flowering plants like Phlox and Echinos
• Ladybirds with organic nesting slots

These insect hotels sustain pollination, increase urban greenery, and contribute to food security. By embedding ecological thinking into architecture, the project fosters a symbiotic relationship between humans and nature.

Towards Bio(divers)Cities

The Grobund project proposes a shift toward biophilic cities—urban environments designed as ecosystems. By connecting small biotopes through modular benches, cities can form a network of green corridors, enhancing biodiversity and human well-being. This approach aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals for climate action, responsible consumption, and life on land.

Grobund is more than a piece of urban furniture; it is a visionary example of sustainable architecture. By blending design, ecology, and community, it reimagines how public spaces can become active agents of climate resilience and biodiversity restoration. Through projects like Grobund, our cities can evolve into thriving ecosystems where people and nature coexist harmoniously.

Project by: Slava Ivanov and Marius Costan