© Terry Pawson Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Aprile 2009.

The program for the competition was to create a new entrance to the 19th C zoological garden. The site next to the neoclassical main building currently holds the bear enclosure, so its reconfiguration was included in the brief.

© Terry Pawson Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Aprile 2009.

The main element of our new proposal for the new entrance building at Frankfurt Zoo is its extensive roof. It forms a generous entrance space and combines all service and visitors accommodation and acts as a well visible inviting gesture and helps the visitor orientate himself or herself upon arrival.

© Terry Pawson Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Aprile 2009.

From the forecourt an open terrace extends the foyer and offers the visitor a panoramic view over the new “Bear Mound” whilst waiting for admission.

© Terry Pawson Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Aprile 2009.

Across from the new entrance building the new bear’s enclosure forms a creative entity. A loop road from the entrance area leads the visitor around the “Bear Mound” and offers a wide range of various views and situations for the visitors to watch and observe the bears. On the lower level the “nose-to-nose” gallery provides unexpected sights of the bears closer up than normally expected with animals like these.

© Terry Pawson Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Aprile 2009.

UK based Chris Blandford Associates provided landscape architecture support.