The Valley of Hippos And Primates

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

Project idea

There is a need for a solution to preserve the Choeropsis liberiensis as a species in the Jihlava Zoo and at the same time to prepare for a long-term breeding concept - the hippopotamus should have at least two separate indoor spaces. The gradual construction of the building should first allow for the possibility of moving from the old stable, which will then be replaced by a new exhibit (a combination of the pygmy hippo and primate exhibit).

Project description

The area is defined by the original enclosure of pygmy hippo, lama and zebra. From the north-east and southeast it is defined by pedestrian roads for visitors of the zoo, from the north-west by forest trail.

The site is located in the north-western part of the Jihlava Zoo and is adjacent to the Velký Heulos forest park. To the northeast is the Granny's Backyard enclosure, to the southwest is the Hacienda, then the peccaries and hawks and to the southeast is the House of felines. A main visitor path runs around the site. The new Valley of Hippos And Primates is located on the original site of the pygmy hippo enclosure and facilities and extends approximately halfway into the llama enclosure.

The building is designed compactly into a three-storey building combining indoor paddocks, stables for animals, technical facilities and spaces for visitors. It is partially embedded in the ground and connects from the roof to the Forest Trail in the hillside, there is also a foot-bridge leading from there past the external primate exhibition. On the roof there is a resi-dence terrace and extensive greenery. From the footbridge and from the roof of the building you can also see down into the hippo enclosures, offering visitors an unusual way to observe the animals. The home of the hippo and the primates that would be housed here is a tropical rainforest, so the building is decorated in earthy grey-brown hues that lighten upwards. The windows are in the form of small random openings, creating a play of light in the interior and a sense of flickering sunlight through the treetops. This is also aided by the placement of a number of smaller ceiling lights within the building.

The main entrance to the exhibit is towards Grandma's backyard, the visitor passes under the footbridge past the monkey aviary and into the interior from where they can view two oppos-ing hippo exhibits. At the back there is a staircase to the second floor, which is dedicated to primates. Opposite the staircase is the technical area through which staff can reach the mon-key cages. All the other walls are glass and the visitor finds himself in a space where he is surrounded on three sides by the forest, including its inhabitants. From here, the staircase continues to the third floor, where there is an exit out onto a roof terrace that overlooks the hippos in their outdoor enclosures, and there is also seating and an educational playground for children. From the roof, visitors can also access the Forest Trail, either directly via a short-er footbridge or by walking in the treetops past the monkey aviary. Continuing on along the main path from Granny's Backyard, visitors will first pass the corner hippo enclosure, then can look down through the sloping skylight into the third indoor hippo exhibit, beyond which are two more outdoor hippo enclosures. Their indoor facilities and technical areas are located between the indoor displays and are accessible to staff via a service road between the corner enclosure and the visitor entrance. Each of the hippos has its own pen and indoor and out-door enclosures, with all three areas interconnected so that there is no contact between the animals and staff can also easily access all areas.

Technical information

The building is designed as a monolithic structure with 300 mm thick external walls and 200 mm thick internal partitions. On the roof of the 1st floor and 3rd floor. NP 2 and 3 is an extensive green roof with a substrate height of 80 mm. On the roof of the 2nd floor there is a terrace and an intensive green roof with a substrate height of 350 mm. The interior spaces are heated mainly by underfloor heating and there is forced ventilation.

Documentation

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