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| Elephant House opens at Copenhagen Zoo The new Elephant House at Copenhagen Zoo opened following an official ceremony attended by His Royal Highness the Prince Consort of Denmark and his grandson, Prince Christian. The project has been driven by research into the behavioural patterns of elephants. The tendency for bull elephants in the wild to roam away from the main herd prompted a plan organised around two separate enclosures. Covered with lightweight, glazed domes to provide natural light, these enclosures are designed to bring a sense of light and openness to a building type traditionally characterised as closed. The spaces maintain a strong visual connection with the sky and changing patterns of daylight and the distinctive 'fritting' on the glazing simulates a canopy of trees. The varying levels on the site are exploited in cross-section. The elephant enclosures are set deep into the ground, ensuring excellent insulation on the perimeter walls and a natural fusion with the landscape. Additionally, the glazed domes have opening windows to allow natural ventilation and there is a heat recovery system – further enhancing the environmental efficiency of the scheme. The Elephant House is Foster + Partners' first zoological building. Inserted into the natural contours of the site, it replaces a structure dating from 1914 and sets new standards in zoological design, providing the animals with a stimulating environment that recreates aspects of their former Asian habitat. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Construction News :: home page |