POLAR CIRCLE, Exhibition Pavilion and Polar Bear Enclosure

FAST VUT - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Department of Architecture

Project idea

The aim of the project was to design a polar bear enclosure.

The shape of the exhibition building is defined by an internal ramp with a circular ground plan. The pavilion is circular in plan and, in simplified terms, its mass is related to a rotating cylinder. The pavilion has three floors, on the top floor the building is connected to the footbridge over the polar bear enclosure.

Project description

There are two entrances to the building, the main idea is to enter at one place and leave at another. The first entrance is on the 1st floor level. If you come through this entrance, you are already in the foyer and have access to the toilets (men, women, disabled, cleaning room and technical room) and the screening room. The ramp continues up to the 2nd floor, where the exhibition is located. To the 3rd floor continue up the ramp and gain access to the roof overlooking the enclosure.

Technical information

The building has reinforced concrete foundations. The supporting system is of reinforced concrete construction. The perimeter structure is skeletal, the internal load-bearing structures are combined (reinforced concrete columns and walls) The construction of the flat roof is a monolithic reinforced concrete slab with a thickness of 360 mm.