ZOOS & AQUARIUMS
MARIO CAMPOS CAMPOS PARTNER JONES & JONES
Jones & Jones has been designing zoos for many years. Is there a pivotal time in zoo design you can tell us about? In 1976, Jones & Jones designed the master plan for the reconstruction of Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. This was the beginning of the era of realistic habitat simulation, and we introduced the concept of designing the zoo according to bioclimatic zones. The gorilla exhibit became a new paradigm in zoo design – immersing animals in their natural environment. That didn’t mean adding rocks, grass and logs, but designing an exhibit that closely simulates or duplicates the natural habitat.
How did you simulate the gorillas’ natural home? The gorillas were given a natural landscape, with tall grasses, shrubs, herbs and climbing trees – everything that a gorilla family would have in the wild. Back then, gorillas were held in sterile concrete low- level cages, so this idea of creating a
trees. We learned it’s possible for gorillas to live in a social environment as long as it’s big enough. It’s a very extensive and beautiful landscape. Some zoos have gone through a similar change with their exhibits and it’s a very signifi cant revolution.
natural habitat was very signifi cant. The gorilla exhibit was designed to present the animals with dignity so it was positioned on higher ground than the visitor area.
Can you compare the gorilla exhibit from the 1970s to the recent one at Dublin Zoo? The gorilla exhibit at Dublin is four times the size of the one at Woodland Park Zoo. It has a whole troop of gorillas, with offspring and younger males. It has a very large night house and day shelter, lots of climbing
What do you think about when designing the visitor experience of an animal exhibit? We use the concept of landscape immersion, which means the public has to also be immersed in the animal’s habitat. It’s the animal’s place and you’re the visitor. By extending the habitat into the visitor realm, the visitor feels like he’s exploring. It’s a comprehensive, holistic learning experience for the visitors, who not only learn respect for the animal but also for the habitat. Animal preservation is entirely linked to conserving the habitat – we want the visitor to gain an appreciation for habitat conservation.
What other considerations are involved? Animal wellbeing is very relevant to today’s zoo exhibit and that means providing what the animal wants and needs in the wild. You can never duplicate a big enough habitat for them, so you have to provide what they
Gorilla Rainforest at Dublin Zoo in Dublin, Ireland mimics West African lowlands
An underwater tunnel is planned for Detroit Zoo’s penguin exhibit in Detroit, Michigan
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