Insect Conservation Cabin

A new purpose for an old site

A new urban development in Cambridgeshire, Trumpington Park, had been built on a site that had previously been the location of the Plant Breeding Institute – an organisation that for most of the 20th century worked on creating agricultural techniques that eradicated insects. To counteract this, an art project – the Insect Breeding Institute – was developed in 2019 by ruralrecreation to encourage a better understanding of the pressures on insect populations, especially from pesticides.

The Insect Breeding Institute was made up of entomologists from Cambridge University, ecologists from Beds, Cambs & Northhants Wildlife Trust and various artists, who worked with local children and families on different art projects, one of which was an idea to create an insect house. The Insect Conservation Cabin would be a place for children and staff at Trumpington Park Primary School to learn about insects, as well as being a home for insects and a huge moth trap (to enable them to be identified and released unharmed).

Combining artistic ideas with technical knowledge

Having done some research, Alex came to Carpenter Oak knowing that we would have the technical knowledge to help him bring this amazing project to life: “I wanted to work with Carpenter Oak as I knew the quality of the materials, craftsmanship and end result would be the very best.”

With some sketches of what he had in mind and an idea of the form, scale and material palette, Alex worked with our team to fully develop the idea. 

Alex was keen for the Insect Conservation Cabin to mirror the traditional fens barn with black cladding, as well as the look of the housing estate around it, and he wanted a roof which would reflect light in a similar way to the iridescence of some insects. We provided recommendations about materials – what would suit this building for long term durability, as well as making sure it was tactile and an enjoyable space for children to be in, and still habitable for moths. 

The Insect Conservation Cabin had to be designed to enable a fast installation over a one day period as it was being placed in the school’s playing field, which was in constant use. It was built at our Devon Yard in two halves – the top roof section and the bottom main section – which were transported on a lorry to the site in summer 2021 and quickly put together in its place.

Final details to complete this unique cabin

The finishing touches on the Insect Conservation Cabin have been carefully thought out to have as little impact on the environment as possible. There is a sound installation (an audio which sounds like cicada or crickets but made by the school children using everyday objects) that is solar powered, a system which collects rainwater for the nearby pond, and instead of traditional tar the exterior black cladding has been stained with an organic dye. Another important detail, to make it a home for the insects, was to perforate the walls with hundreds of tiny holes.

This was such a creative and unique project to collaborate with artist Alex Murdin on. It was fantastic to see his vision for an insect house come to life with the help of our expertise in timber designing and building, resulting in an exceptional place for children to learn as well as a scientific resource that will benefit future research.

“Carpenter Oak took the concept design and made it a beautiful reality. The end result is superb and has been admired by those who have seen it so far as both an object and as a small contribution to the efforts we all need to make if we are not to see the beautiful and diverse range of life forms we share the world with simply disappear.” Dr. Alex Murdin

Photography: Matthew Smith

Whether we’re building cabins, complete homes, wedding barns or trebuchets, we love collaborating with our clients to help them create timber framed buildings and structures that are completely bespoke to their needs. If you would like to talk to us about a project you have on the horizon, please get in touch with us.