'lesser houses' are 3D printed habitats for the insects in your home

amsterdam-based designer and architect angelo renna has created a series 3D-printed houses for the bugs and insects that inhabit your home. the project, titled ‘lesser houses’, highlights the remarkable but often hidden diversity of life around us by offering it a safe place to stay.

most spiders are predators that feed on insects and even other spiders…the ladybugs stay safe inside the house

‘every now and then, you probably see a little creature around your home’, explains angelo renna. ‘ants find their way to food that’s left out, spiders spin cobwebs in quiet corners of a room, and ladybugs occasionally appear near to windows where water condenses. but those you see are only a little part of it.’

ants always find a way to get back home

according to the results of a biodiversity survey published in the journal peer-J in january 2018, there are around 100 different species of spiders, insects, centipedes, and bugs that inhabit our home. in response to these findings angelo russo has developed various habitats with wildlife specialist francesco carrasso. each 3D-printed habitat is designed to suit a different type of insect, taking inspiration from the natural habitats insects carve out for themselves in nature. 

the narrow opening is the entrance door. only moths and butterflies can enter.

renna plans to make the 3D model of each house available to download and print via thingiverse. in the mean time, see the inspiration behind the designs below and explore renna’s other projects which include an artificial ‘sponge mountain’ that absorbs CO2 emissions.

thousand-legs house

jumping spider house

me and my roommates

ladybug house

pill bug house

maybe you will find a jumping spider in the fly house’…why not sharing

insects are the most diverse group of animals; they include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms

ant house

ladybugs leave lonely most of the year…only in winter they hibernate together

project info

designer: angelo renna

project: lesser houses

type: 3D-printed habitats for insects