Beenius

Hexagonal honeycomb tables: modular design for modern learning spaces

April 10, 20251 Minuten Lesezeit
#Beeniusprototyping: Wabentische konzipieren

Spaces shape what people do. Many schools still look as they did two hundred years ago: tables in rows, everyone facing the front. A thought experiment: what happens if tables take the shape of a honeycomb?

A prototype of a hexagonal honeycomb table made of Beenius parts

With Beenius an idea quickly becomes a tangible model. The system suits prototypes well, for example hexagonal tables that could give the global education landscape fresh momentum.

Six reasons for hexagonal tables

  1. Supporting communication: direct eye contact makes exchanging ideas easier.
  2. Flexibility: the tables can be combined into changing areas for group work.
  3. Efficient use of space: the honeycombs fit together across the whole area and use the room fully.
  4. Ergonomic design: enough room for materials and for comfortable working.
  5. Encouraging creativity: the six sided shape invites you to take new perspectives.
  6. Equal participation: all seats have the same rank, every voice gets the same room.

What the honeycomb table should be able to do

A detailed view of the honeycomb table model with its six sided table top
Six edges, many combinations: the honeycombs can be pushed together into larger surfaces.

The table as imagined carries a rewritable surface made of Infinity Stonepaper. It is foldable, height adjustable and mobile, so working mode turns into a free surface within seconds. The side length is about 45 centimetres, suited to children and to many different arrangements.

Infinity Stonepaper is made of 60 percent calcium carbonate and 40 percent HDPE. It is produced in a dry extrusion process. At 450 g/m² the surface is tear resistant and waterproof, wipeable and rewritable. The material carries Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver. After use it belongs in the residual waste.

Putting it into practice with Precious Plastic

Machines from the Precious Plastic initiative for shredding and melting plastic
The open machines from Precious Plastic turn collected plastic into new parts.

Upcycling suggests itself for the structure of the table. The community initiative Precious Plastic shows the way: collect plastic, shred it, melt it and bring it into new forms. The plans for the machines are openly available, and workshops worldwide work with them.

A honeycomb table made of reprocessed plastic for schools worldwide remains a design for now. The thought is idealistic, and it seems just as feasible.

Building prototypes yourself

Beenius serves as a toolbox for your own designs: ideas come about first as a model in your hand, then in the room. Try it out and build your own honeycomb table in miniature.

See the Beenius bag