The 'St. Johns Hive' is inspired by the octagonal hives described in A New Discovery About Bee Colonies … (at that time known as Apiarium anglicum on the Continent) by John Gedde (1675) and the 'Warre Hive' (1st half of the 20th century).

In the 16th and 17th century various educated English individuals built, used and wrote about octagonal bee hives. The management of these 'new' hives had many advantages over the common skeps (hives made of straw) of the time, especially that the bees did not need to be smothered or drowned in order to harvest honey. Here you see Christopher Wren's drawing. He was also the architect of Christ Church's Tom Tower with its octagonal lantern. Eva Crane wrote in The World History of Honeyhunting and Beekeeping: “The drawing was one of the first architectural drawings made by Christopher Wren, then a Fellow of All Souls at Oxford … It shows an (octagonal) hive based on Mew's, but with three boxes instead of two. Hartlib's 1655 book The Reformed Common-wealth of Bees published the drawings and accompanying notes: “In different forms, but with similar management such hives have been 'reinvented' and used on a small scale in Europe ever since. Through the invention and development of 'movable frames' with 'wax foundation' since 1850 'rational beekeeping' successively became globally predominant.

With the occurrence of 'worldwide bee decline', interest in sustainable, organic or alternative beekeeping has spread. A range of different hives and approaches have been developed and are used in this field today. One popular design approach is the 'vertical top bar hive', of which the 'Warre Hive' is the most widely used. Abbe Warre developed his hive in the first half of the 20th century. His 'Peoples Hive' or 'Warre Hive' and ideas of bee management are based on thorough research and experience. His hive is square and features many exquisite details regarding in its construction, insulation and management. A basic feature of the Warre hive is that of minimal interference with the bee colony and therefore minimal work and costs. It allows bees to build natural combs, overwinter on their own honey stores and to swarm (although swarming is reduced through the management). Also no wax is ever introduced or reintroduced into the hive.

In both the 'Warre Hives' and the 'old English octagonal Hives' empty space or empty boxes are added underneath the colony’s comb, as bees naturally build downwards. This allows bees to build their own comb and the Queen always lays eggs in fresh wax.

The 'St. Johns Hive' combines the octagonal form with the other features of the Warre Hive and management. In addition I am experimenting by not using top bars in every box in the project hives. This allows bees to build in a completely empty space as in a hollow tree. It also facilitates the possibility of exercising “Goethean Observation” of the colonies, a central aim of the project. I believe that “Goethean Observation” of undisturbed bee colonies in almost natural conditions can make a valid contribution to sustainable beekeeping.

The hives are named after John the Baptist. One of the few passages of the New Testament mentioning honey is about him. Mark 1, 1-8: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”