Animal Attractions


Creating buildings for people is one thing, but when they are for animals it’s a whole different thing. We look at a selection of designs that have provided homes for the furry and the feathered...


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Words by Toby Maxwell

Historically, architecture and design has -- quite understandably -- been primarily focused on the wants and needs of humans, such is the way in which the established notions of space, layout and comfort have evolved.

Creating buildings in which other animals live brings with it a fresh set of requirements that determine the design considerations from the very start and right the way through to the end of a project.

We take a look at a selection of animal homes -- some designed, some still just imagined -- and find out how these buildings can help to take the creative brief in new directions, and also perhaps to see what we can learn from design best-practice on a wider level.

Case Study
Crackenback stables, Kosciuszko National Park, Australia

Far from traditional in form, this Australian stable building brings multipurpose functionality and visual consideration of its surroundings together in a single structure. The design architect for the stables, Rob Brown, director of Sydney-based Casey Brown Architecture, explains the thinking behind this distinctive build.

'The brief we were given at Crackenback Stables was somewhat of a hybrid programme. Yes, the building did need to operate primarily as a working stable, but it also had the dual function of providing human accommodation as well.

Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables
Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables

This is twofold in the planning -- at the ground floor level, to the north-west is the stable itself, and to the north-east the caretaker's accommodation. It was important that this area be placed in close proximity to the stable for the care of the horses, yet also an adequate distance away to maintain human comfort.

'Architecturally this is achieved by a large portal cut through the centre of the plan, creating a reception/service area for both the stable and the caretaker, as well as providing undercover access to the secondary accommodation area that sits above the stable. This is the owner's self-contained apartment and is particularly interesting due to its vertical relationship to the stable. Again, the idea was to celebrate the horses, with the primary living space located directly above their day yards, fostering a constant visual connection to them and the natural bushland beyond. Basically, the idea was to balance comfort and functionality for horses and humans alike.

Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables.
Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables

'The requirements for accommodating animals challenge the established norms of architecture and design, yet also result as an extension of established practice. The needs of animals (in this case horses, which enjoy first-class accommodation) are in many ways similar to that of people, but require much more space. First and foremost this occurs programmatically, whereby a large amount of the building footprint (out of functional necessity) is taken up by practical spaces such as feed, store rooms, wash areas. There was a need to accommodate a much larger amount of service/storage space purely due to the nature of the building as a working stable.

'Architecturally these spaces were put to the southern side of the building (the lesser desired solar aspect in the southern hemisphere), and the stables and day yards themselves were located to the sunny northern aspect. Similarly, this arrangement is mimicked -- albeit on a smaller scale -- in the living quarters above, where the main gathering space looks down on the yards and landscape beyond.

Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables
Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables

'In terms of challenging the established norms, commonly one would not think to design an architectural structure for livestock/ large animals -- and probably not take the project to the level that Crackenback Stables achieves. We were lucky enough to be commissioned by a very enthusiastic client whose brief was concise -- he wanted "a simple building beautifully detailed". Conceived as a retreat for horse riding in the summer and as a ski lodge in the winter, the building includes a wood-fired hydronic floor-heating system that heats accommodation areas for humans and provides warmth to each of the client's six horses in their respective stables during the freezing winters. Recessed energy efficient LED strip lighting has also been installed throughout the stable area.

'In terms of interior/material finishing, there are some differences between the stable area itself and the accommodation areas. This is largely seen in the inclusion of timber joinery in the living spaces that add a sense of warmth to the space, as well as the use of plasterboard and tile wall and ceiling finishes. In the stables, material selection is much more robust and easily cleanable.

Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables
Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables

'There is no timber or chippable surfaces such as plasterboard or tile. Instead, here are concrete-block infill walls, and all doors, structural members, external cladding and fencing are a combination of galvanised corrugated iron and weathered steel. All doors have been exquisitely detailed to address the building's functional purpose as a stable: each stable door has been designed as a series of compartmentalised and openable parts, with the lower portion a solid element and the upper window a hybrid, comprising steel strips and a perforated mesh behind.

The addition of the mesh is a direct response to enhancing protection from the summer flies, which are prevalent and attracted by the horses. A bespoke steel 'horse-proof' locking mechanism completes the door. Flooring throughout the accommodation areas and the stables are both of concrete slab construction, though in the human areas this is polished, providing more refinement and comfort.'

Case Study
Horse Park, Yeongcheon, South Korea

In a competition to come up with a revolutionary design for a new horse-racing circuit for the Korea Racing Authority, French architecture firm Loci Anima -- together with Chae-Pereira Architects and Jean de Gastines Architects -- received an honourable mention for its eyecatching design, named Pegasus.

The plan for the Yeongcheon Horse Park in South Korea was for an aerial race track, incorporating the functions of a conventional racing facility into an airborne ring. The guiding principle was to minimise the distances and interfaces between the various parts of the site, making it easy to circulate and to move quickly from one space to another.

The interior street has been designed to allow free-flowing traffic for cars, horses, jockeys, staff and the public. The west-facing grandstand is slightly inclined by seven degrees so that spectators get the best view, while the betting facilities are located under the grandstand, between the parade ring and the racetrack, which allows the spectators to place their bet and then get back to their seat quickly and in time to see the race.

Horse Park
Horses get first-class treatment at the Crackenback Stables

The grandstand has been designed so that it is possible to see the racetrack and the paddock on the same level, giving a full view of the race and the horses being prepared. The ticket office and the public lounges -- separate from the VIP area -- are on the grandstand level between the viewpoint for the paddock and that of the racetrack and the finishing line.

This means that the different groups of spectators enjoy separate spaces in a compact, autonomous grandstand.

Jonathan Thornhill, project director at Loci Anima Architects, says: 'The brief was to design a racecourse and associated grandstand together with an equestrian park. Situated in a naturally hilly and wooded landscape, our project elevates the racecourse above the landscape so as to preserve the existing landscape, thus leaving it intact for future generations. All the functions and integrated amenities are integrated in the structure beneath the racetrack, so that the equestrian park could use the maximum amount of natural landscape for horse riding amenities, with...minimum impact on the natural landscape. The whole complex is entirely self-sufficient in energy, notably through bio-mass gas and geo-thermal energy production.'

Loci Anima is a practice that balances architecture, urbanism and innovation, founded by Françoise Raynaud in 2002 in Paris. Her spaces are designed to create links between people and nature, people and animals, and people and plant life in buildings designed to be living entities. The firm has been awarded projects in New Zealand, Spain and Vietnam, and is currently developing a new concept for a high-rise building in Manhattan.

Case Study
Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park, Zurich Zoo, Switzerland

At the foot of a rocky terrain and amid a vast landscape with dense vegetation is a striking new home for the elephants of Zurich Zoo, with its defining visual feature being a distinctive wooden roof structure.

The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment
The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment

The 6,800 sq m roof fits a flat, free-form building neatly into the landscape. Designed by Zurich-based practice Markus Schietsch Architecture, it dissolves into a net-like transparent structure with an organic form that appears to seamlessly link with the surrounding forest. Inside, the roof unfolds to create a highly atmospheric effect, as if through a canopy sunlight is filtered through the filigree roof, casting light and shade in various levels.

The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment
The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment

The internal hall has an overall diameter of 80m but the roof has been designed in such a way that it does not require any wooden columns or support structures of any kind inside. Light in the hall is provided by 271 skylights made of UV-permeable ETFE foil covering an overall surface area of some 2,100 sq m. Inside the hall, this gives the impression of being in a park under a canopy of leaves, which again emphasises the 'natural' aspect of the elephant park. All the various elements of the construction were developed using a 3D computer model. A roof model was built on a scale of 1:200 to test structural analysis and construction data, with the findings then incorporated into the calculations. An additional roof cut-out of the entire roof structure (including waterproofing and skylights) was built later on.

The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment
The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment

Water plays a significant role in the new elephant park. Pools and showers are provided for the animals both inside and out and, as good swimmers, the elephants make the most of these facilities. They are used to crossing stretches of water in the wild, and often bathe in water to regulate their body temperature and look after their skin. Now they can do the same in this compound.

The zoo's six elephants have benefitted from a range of other features offered by the new building. They have six times more room than before as well as several different watering holes for swimming and bathing.

The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment
The new elephant park at the zoo gives the animals more room and a more natural environment

The new park also offers the elephants more opportunities for moving around in different ways, and enables them to live together naturally as a family group.

The way in which the keepers look after the elephants has also changed. The animals are now cared for in 'protected contact' at all times. This means that the keepers are no longer in the same room as the elephants.

This gives the animals more freedom to develop their social structure, while also ensuring greater security for the keepers.

Case Study
Ravens enclosure, Tower of London

Legend has it that the Tower's very survival depends on the famous ravens remaining at the famous London landmark, so it is perhaps only right that the birds themselves have suitable VIP accommodation on site...

Llowarch Llowarch Architects has completed a new enclosure for the legendary ravens at the Tower of London. Perched on the edge of a grassy slope in the Tower's innermost ward, the new 46 sq m timber structure is an elegant and appropriate new home for the birds, offering the opportunity for visitors to get up close to the ravens, a popular attraction.

Their former accommodation had reached the end of its serviceable life, so Historic Royal Palaces (HMP), the independent charity that looks after the Tower, commissioned Llowarch Llowarch Architects to create a new enclosure to address the public interest, and improve the birds' welfare and comfort.

The ravens go on show in their new enclosure at the Tower of London
The ravens go on show in their new enclosure at the Tower of London

Nicola Llowarch, partner at the practice, says: 'Ravens are highly intelligent. Unlike in an aviary, the birds have free rein of the Tower during the day, and openings in the rear of the new enclosures allow the ravens to come and go. At night these are closed for the ravens' own protection. Given their status as a top attraction, the ravens also needed to be highly visible. An important premise was that the birds should be seen against the backdrop of the historic setting, so maintaining transparency through the enclosure was important.'

The new enclosures also had to be sensitive and appropriate to the setting -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Scheduled Ancient Monument, and Grade I listed structures. Llowarch adds: "We worked closely with the Ravenmaster at the Tower, and with specialist input from London Zoo."

The new enclosure comprises a series of oak slatted structures running perpendicular to the grass slope. The structures contain the ravens' sleeping boxes, while the open spaces between are covered by ultra-fine stainless steel mesh creating four secure recreation areas for the birds. When viewed from the front, the structures frame the birds in their setting, presenting them against the backdrop of the iconic White Tower. Sliding screens to the rear provide access to the open sections of the enclosures while maintaining transparency.

The ravens go on show in their new enclosure at the Tower of London
The ravens go on show in their new enclosure at the Tower of London

'Restrained detailing' was a key element in Llowarch Llowarch's approach. The enclosure's design evolved through a series of models at various scales, a process of studies of simplification and refinement aimed at minimising the structure's impact in this historic setting. Vertical oak slats bring an implied translucency, in contrast to the stone boundary, as well as bringing an intimacy of scale and texture. A restrained palette of oak and stainless steel netting makes the enclosure a sensitive and appropriate addition to the World Heritage Site.

The selection of materials references their historic use at the Tower. Timber structures are believed to have been on the site before the expansion of the Royal Lodgings beyond the White Tower in the 13th century. The Raven Enclosure was designed to exaggerate the innate qualities of each material, and the architects worked closely with the craftspeople in a collaborative process of making and approval, which involved regular visits to the manufacturer's workshop rather than the traditional, more distant, process of reviewing and approving shop drawings.

The ravens go on show in their new enclosure at the Tower of London
The ravens go on show in their new enclosure at the Tower of London

In line with the brief, a new timber deck provides space for an expanded programme of educational talks and workshops. The roof is also an important elevation as the enclosure is highly visible from the Wall Walk and White Tower steps. Contextually, its height continues in line with the plateau of the lawn over the adjacent Ravens Shop.

Llowarch says: 'It's been fascinating. I now know some of the ravens by name, and their different habits and personalities -- there is one that likes to play dead, which is a little alarming!'

Case Study
Land of the Lions, London Zoo

London Zoo opened its newest attraction earlier this year, a 2,500 sq m space for its Asiatic lions. It allows visitors to explore the area across three walkways and an Indian-themed design aimed at raising awareness of the conservation issues facing the species. Robin Fitzgerald, head of projects at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), explains the design considerations behind the £5.2m project.

'The key requirement for enclosure design is to meet all of the needs of the animals. We collate all of the animal care and enrichment requirements and combine these with the requirements set out by our zoo licence.

Touches of Indian life surround London Zoo’s Land of the Lions
Touches of Indian life surround London Zoo's Land of the Lions

'This then needs to be incorporated into an inspiring visitor experience that communicates ZSL's key messages. In the case of Land of the Lions, these were to communicate the plight of the Asiatic lion in the wild, as only around 500 are left in their last key stronghold of the Gir Forest of Gujarat, India. The exhibit is designed as an immersive recreation of the lion's wild habitat and surrounding area, illustrating how closely these last remaining lions live alongside the local community.

'To take the landscaping as an example, layouts had to be designed that resemble the lions' native Indian habitat as closely as possible, with plants that grow in a temperate climate, to provide shade, enrichment and even scratching posts for the lions.

'Although architectural statements have historically played a part in exhibit design -- perhaps most famously with Berthold Lubetkin's iconic Penguin Pool here at ZSL London Zoo -- nowadays the emphasis is more squarely on the animals' experience and welfare.

'We aim to provide flexible spaces for the animals that can be easily adapted to our developments and innovations in animal care.

Touches of Indian life surround London Zoo’s Land of the Lions
Touches of Indian life surround London Zoo's Land of the Lions

Land of the Lions was conceived to work as a breeding centre for the endangered Asiatic lion and, as such, the enclosure design needed to be flexible to allow for the potential expansion of the pride at a later date.

'The materials chosen for an animal enclosure depend greatly on the durability level required by the species that will be exposed to them. In this instance, lions can be fairly destructive and so materials were chosen that would be durable enough to withstand the daily use they were likely to receive. The materials also needed to be considered aesthetically, to reflect the natural Indian habitat of the Asiatic lion as closely as London's climate allows, while also providing an immersive, engaging and educational environment for visitors.

Touches of Indian life surround London Zoo’s Land of the Lions
Touches of Indian life surround London Zoo's Land of the Lions

'A good example of balancing these considerations is in our choice of material for the key visitor experience area of the exhibit, the Temple Clearing, which boasts 180 degree views into the lions' habitat. To make this vision a reality, we needed to identify a suitably safe and durable boundary material that would still enable a "transparent" viewing experience. In this case, a fine wire boundary was chosen over the more traditional glass window, as although a glass boundary would have allowed good views and a close-up experience for visitors, it would have denied the smells, sounds and awe that can come from feeling as though you are in the same space as these majestic animals, with only a fine wire mesh between you. The fine piano-wire fence chosen allows visitors to feel closer than ever before to our lions, while also being tested to withstand the force of a big cat running at top speed!'








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