April 16, 2010
Here are some images from a just completed Houthoff Zoo Design project. Designed to prevent animals from mingling with the visitors in Rotterdam Zoo’s Asia exhibit, this construction can withstand the force of a charging elephant. It also looks nice and we like things which look nice.
First we made a steel barrier and fixed it into the concrete walls and floor. Then, taking inspiration from the existing twenty year old jungle theming, we transformed the not so pretty structure into a fallen, decomposing tree. A ‘jungley’ paint job and a scattering of lichens completed the effect.
We are not sure if the elephants will appreciate the feng shui we performed for them but we sure think it looks better than a boring metal barrier.
October 1, 2008
Main contractor : Koda Creative
Helsinki Zoo is built on an island called Korkeasaari (high island) and is connected to the mainland by a bridge or you can catch a ferry from the city harbour. It is a very old zoo with some fantastic finnish architecture and also some more modern additions.
We have just completed a River Amazon display featuring an artificial muddy river bank complete with exposed rocks and roots. The section of river is 7 metres long and will house fish species indigenous to to South America.
The display is part of a large jungle style hot house that is home for many tropical bird and animal species including a Hoffman’s Sloth (our favourite) and some toucans (very noisy).
This is a view of the finished riverbank theming. Some of the roots hide spray bars and overflows and the tree stumps coming out of the water (when it is filled) help tie in the trees in the the background.
We also built a ‘fallen tree’ in the reptile pool for the caimans and turtles to climb on and bask under some heat lamps.
Here Tom applies the scratch coat to the fallen tree.
Here I am painting the finished theming with an acrylic based paint.
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