Enclosure for African Apes, Wilhelma Stuttgart, Germany Hascher Jehle Architects The new ape enclosure at the Wilhelma in Stuttgart uses the themes of ridge, valley and forest. An S-shaped path winds between two areas: one for gorillas and one for bonobos. The winding path allows views of the animals on either side and the enclosure is lit by large skylights. Outside, there’s a close-contact zone where people and apes can stand face-to-face separated only by armoured glazing.
The ape enclosure is at the highest point of the zoological gardens
Smells and sounds from the gorilla exhibit can be experienced by visitors
Giant Panda Forest, Adelaide Zoo Adelaide, Australia Hassell Architects Hassell designed a panda exhibit for Adelaide Zoo, alongside a new entrance plaza to cope with the expected increase in visitor numbers. The Giant Panda Forest is an immersive landscape resembling the Chinese Highlands. According to Hassell, the exhibit is designed to exceed best practices in animal management, with a state-of-the-art holding facility, water features, rocks and mature trees.
As well as simulating the pandas’ natural habitat, the exhibit explains research and conservation work.
Giant pandas Funi and Wang Wang arrived at Adelaide Zoo in 2009
St Petersburg Zoo St Petersburg, Russia TN Plus and Beckmann-N’Thépe The new zoo for St Petersburg – the project is currently on hold – is inspired by the lost supercontinent of Pangaea. Different areas of the planet will be represented in different zones, with a winter circuit that links greenhouses and covered areas designed to attract visitors in the cold season from November to April. The site’s water body will be central to the design and visitor experience, and the zoo will be connected to the city by a network of boats.
Architects Beckmann N’Thépe and landscape designers TN Plus won a competition to design the zoo
Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park, Zurich Zoo Zurich, Switzerland Markus Schietsch This contemporary structure, located among natural vegetation and housing 10 elephants, will allow visitors to be immersed in the habitat of the animal. They’ll walk on dense pathways and watch elephants dive into the water from a viewing point. The patterns in the shell-shaped wooden roof filter light into the interior. The architectural elements and landscaping of the elephant house interact with one another to create a nature-inspired experience.
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE MARC WEHRLI
The elephant facility opened in 2014 and cost $60m (£39m, €54m)
Giraffe House, Auckland Zoo Auckland, New Zealand Monk Mackenzie A giraffe breeding shelter was completed for Auckland Zoo in 2013 to cater for the attraction’s growing giraffe population. The shelter had to be functional and comfortable for the animals, with an area for the keepers and a viewing platform for visitors. The sliding doors and walls are moveable, and the yards can be configured into different layouts, making the giraffe house highly flexible. To fit to a small budget, a limited range of locally sourced materials was used.
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
A round-up of recent zoo exhibit design with a contemporary feel
Alice Davis
Enclosure for African Apes, Wilhelma Stuttgart, Germany Hascher Jehle Architects The new ape enclosure at the Wilhelma in Stuttgart uses the themes of ridge, valley and forest. An S-shaped path winds between two areas: one for gorillas and one for bonobos. The winding path allows views of the animals on either side and the enclosure is lit by large skylights. Outside, there’s a close-contact zone where people and apes can stand face-to-face separated only by armoured glazing.
The ape enclosure is at the highest point of the zoological gardens
Smells and sounds from the gorilla exhibit can be experienced by visitors
Giant Panda Forest, Adelaide Zoo Adelaide, Australia Hassell Architects Hassell designed a panda exhibit for Adelaide Zoo, alongside a new entrance plaza to cope with the expected increase in visitor numbers. The Giant Panda Forest is an immersive landscape resembling the Chinese Highlands. According to Hassell, the exhibit is designed to exceed best practices in animal management, with a state-of-the-art holding facility, water features, rocks and mature trees.
As well as simulating the pandas’ natural habitat, the exhibit explains research and conservation work.
Giant pandas Funi and Wang Wang arrived at Adelaide Zoo in 2009
St Petersburg Zoo St Petersburg, Russia TN Plus and Beckmann-N’Thépe The new zoo for St Petersburg – the project is currently on hold – is inspired by the lost supercontinent of Pangaea. Different areas of the planet will be represented in different zones, with a winter circuit that links greenhouses and covered areas designed to attract visitors in the cold season from November to April. The site’s water body will be central to the design and visitor experience, and the zoo will be connected to the city by a network of boats.
Architects Beckmann N’Thépe and landscape designers TN Plus won a competition to design the zoo
Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park, Zurich Zoo Zurich, Switzerland Markus Schietsch This contemporary structure, located among natural vegetation and housing 10 elephants, will allow visitors to be immersed in the habitat of the animal. They’ll walk on dense pathways and watch elephants dive into the water from a viewing point. The patterns in the shell-shaped wooden roof filter light into the interior. The architectural elements and landscaping of the elephant house interact with one another to create a nature-inspired experience.
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE MARC WEHRLI
The elephant facility opened in 2014 and cost $60m (£39m, €54m)
Giraffe House, Auckland Zoo Auckland, New Zealand Monk Mackenzie A giraffe breeding shelter was completed for Auckland Zoo in 2013 to cater for the attraction’s growing giraffe population. The shelter had to be functional and comfortable for the animals, with an area for the keepers and a viewing platform for visitors. The sliding doors and walls are moveable, and the yards can be configured into different layouts, making the giraffe house highly flexible. To fit to a small budget, a limited range of locally sourced materials was used.
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
Originally published in Attractions Management 2015 issue 3
