Concept Plan

Zoo Frankfurt

Frankfurt, Germany

.

One of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious zoological institutions is renovating some of its most dated areas as part of its “Zookunft 2030” strategy. The Concept Plan focuses on developing Zoo Frankfurt into a truly zoo-based conservation organization that is a strong partner for its founder organization, the Frankfurt Zoological Society.

.

Three main themed areas have been proposed, re-creating various biomes of the Amazon basin, the European wetlands and the African forests and savannahs. These areas will showcase some of the ongoing in situ conservation projects of the Frankfurt Zoological Society, while interpretive centres and trails will engage visitors and highlight conservation in action. Modern, spacious, new indoor immersive tropical biome areas will benefit the visitors, animals and keepers all, particularly during the colder months of the year. The zoo’s collection of charismatic large African fauna will enjoy new, naturalistic winter quarters re-creating their natural habitats.

Serengeti Savannah

Zoom Torino

Cumiana, Italy

.

Landscape immersion exhibit design has been applied to this mixed-species savannah exhibit. Visitors will be immersed on an African grasslands experience, meandering through rolling grassy hills and dry river beds.

.

Special attention has been given to grass management, so that grazing herbivores on green fields coexist in this habitat, reflecting the grassland biome. An artificial baobab tree dominates the landscape. Viewing points towards the Alps, allow for this mountain backdrop to serve as borrowed landscape, reminiscent of the Rift Valley in Eastern Africa.

Interactive Interpretation

Atlantis Aquarium

Arroyomolinos, Spain

.

Digital and haptic graphic information, conveyed via tactile screens and video projections, greatly enhances the attractiveness of the educational information. Quality interactive experience may become one of the highlights for aquarium visitors.

Albufera Concept

Oceanogràfic

Valencia, Spain

.

Europe’s largest aquarium, Oceanogràfic combines marine exhibits with spectacular contemporary architecture. Félix Candela’s iconic hyperbolicparaboloid cupulas were initially surrounded by sterile, mirror lakes.

.

The need to reorganize part of the animal collection and to create a more natural environment led to develop a Concept in which those lakes were turned into a recreation of the various biomes from the nearby Albufera Natural Park. This important wetland, a transition between dry land and the Mediterranean Sea, becomes a new immersive experience in Oceanogràfic, and a dramatic introduction to water habitats, a prelude to the aquarium’s marine exhibits.

Master Plan

Faruk Yalçin Zoo

Darica, Turkey

.

One of Turkey’s leading zoological parks, Faruk Yalçin Zoo has grown over decades of random development, like many other such institutions. The Master Plan sets the guidelines for its future development on a more orderly way.

.

The collection will be arranged by zoo-geographic biomes, presenting animals as part of a more complex eco-system. New exhibits will follow the landscape immersion principles, becoming more engaging for visitors. A clever use of the existing sloped terrain will help create canyons, gorges and waterfalls to enrich the visitor experience. A special area has been set aside to showcase Turkey’s rich biodiversity on an attractive way.

Madagascar

Zoom Torino

Cumiana, Italy

.

An island on an existing lake was created and modelled to present some landscapes of the Madagascar, itself and island on the Indian Ocean. Talented artists have recreated the karstic rock formations of the Ankarana “Tsingy”, and two stately baobab trees, replicas of the island species Adansonia grandidieri. This is the attractive setting for a unique encounter, as visitors will walk amongst free-ranging lemurs on a guided tour. The conservation awareness message is emphasized with an interpretive center focusing on the challenges to preserve Madagascar’s unique biodiversity.

Style Guide

ZooAquarium Madrid

Madrid, Spain

.

Built in the early 1970s with brutalist architecture, Madrid Zooaquarium has evolved over the years trying to adapt its original raw concrete buildings and landscapes to the evolving zoo world, making its exhibits more adequate to improved animal management, and trying to adapt to the changing public perception. The result is an eclectic array of architectural, landscaping and signage that has a negative effect over the visitor experience.

.

The style guide sets the principles to address all this issues on a harmonious way, presenting styles and solutions to help better integrate the protected architecture with its beautiful location in Casa de Campo, trying to balance the grey concrete with the green and brown colours of the Mediterranean forest setting.

Concept

Océano

Ibiza, Spain

.

This conceptual proposal sets an entirely new definition of marine experience park. True to the landscape immersion principles, visitors will be able to literally plunge into and explore various marine habitats, swimming and diving amongst the fish. The park will be strongly focused on the Mediterranean Sea habitats, and will have a Conservation Center focusing on the preservation of the marine biomes.

Static Interpretation

Atlantis Aquarium

Arroyomolinos, Spain

.

Aquarium signage is quite a challenge. The many fish species that share each tank exhibit are difficult to identify and the dim light often makes traditional signage difficult to appreciate by visitors and to integrate within the experience. On this new aquarium we aimed at creating a graphic style that was both informative and engaging, and appear as a harmonious extension of the exhibit itself.