Toronga Zoo's new entry
Photography by Brett Boardman
According to the jury ‘The new upper entry precinct provides Taronga Zoo with an arrival experience that befits its status as a major Sydney attraction.'
The jury noted how ‘BVN have transformed the area through simple and effective interventions - including the preservation and reframing of existing features such as the historic entry gate and Water Bird wall'.
They pointed out how ‘Until now, visits to the Zoo have often been marred by the discouraging experience of navigating the vast parking terrain and enduring ticket queues before being funnelled through a key-hole entry gate.'
BVN's decision to build a new multi-storey car-park away from the zoo enabled the grounds immediately in front of the zoo to be attractively landscaped by JPW to provide a park like setting that can serve as an overflow car-park in busy periods, and meanwhile as the jury notes ‘has become a civic lawn that can be shared by the local community'.
The jury found that ‘Perhaps the most significant urban gesture is the ambiguity of the spaces that have been created - the inner plaza is ‘un-ticketed' space that allows free public access well into the formerly exclusive Zoo domain.'
Ms Abbie Galvin, BVN Principal noted that ‘The original 1916 entry building, zoo walls and giant fig trees had become lost behind the clutter of poorly considered additions. Arriving at the zoo had become stressful, dangerous and visually displeasing.'
BVN worked closely with zoo stakeholders to establish the guiding architectural principles which were to focus on the landscape making the landscape the foreground with the buildings as background. ‘The intention was to reinforce the nature of the zoo as a walled garden and to allow visitors to experience their entry to the zoo as a promenade,' said Ms Galvin.
The jury found that ‘The architects' intelligent and thoughtful approach both respects and enriches the precinct and has enhanced the Zoo as an asset for the local community and Sydneysiders alike.
The jury noted how ‘BVN have transformed the area through simple and effective interventions - including the preservation and reframing of existing features such as the historic entry gate and Water Bird wall'.
They pointed out how ‘Until now, visits to the Zoo have often been marred by the discouraging experience of navigating the vast parking terrain and enduring ticket queues before being funnelled through a key-hole entry gate.'
BVN's decision to build a new multi-storey car-park away from the zoo enabled the grounds immediately in front of the zoo to be attractively landscaped by JPW to provide a park like setting that can serve as an overflow car-park in busy periods, and meanwhile as the jury notes ‘has become a civic lawn that can be shared by the local community'.
The jury found that ‘Perhaps the most significant urban gesture is the ambiguity of the spaces that have been created - the inner plaza is ‘un-ticketed' space that allows free public access well into the formerly exclusive Zoo domain.'
Ms Abbie Galvin, BVN Principal noted that ‘The original 1916 entry building, zoo walls and giant fig trees had become lost behind the clutter of poorly considered additions. Arriving at the zoo had become stressful, dangerous and visually displeasing.'
BVN worked closely with zoo stakeholders to establish the guiding architectural principles which were to focus on the landscape making the landscape the foreground with the buildings as background. ‘The intention was to reinforce the nature of the zoo as a walled garden and to allow visitors to experience their entry to the zoo as a promenade,' said Ms Galvin.
The jury found that ‘The architects' intelligent and thoughtful approach both respects and enriches the precinct and has enhanced the Zoo as an asset for the local community and Sydneysiders alike.
