STATUS
COMPLETED
CLIENT
Copenhagen Zoo
TYPOLOGY
Culture
SIZE M2/FT2
2,450 / 26,372
SHARE
The home for giant pandas Mao Sun and Xing Er in Copenhagen Zoo resembles the natural panda habitat and creates a peaceful living environment for one of the world’s rarest mammals.
Formed by its residents’ solitary nature and its immediate surroundings, including the Zoo’s central square, the Nordic area, the monkey house and the elephant house, the 2,450 m2 Panda House creates a harmonious indoor-outdoor garden for the two pandas to roam freely and have the ideal conditions to mate – one of the major challenges facing the vulnerable species.
Pandas Mutual Dependence (Yin Yang)
— Pandas are extremely selective. Natural breeding has only occurred in a few zoos outside of China.
Pandas Mutual Dependence (Yin Yang)
— To increase probability of reproduction, the pandas should not be able to see, hear or even smell each other most of the year.
2 Pandas
— The circular shape fits perfectly between the existing facilities, including the Nordic area, the monkey house, the new central square and the elephant house. The panda enclosure is divided into two separate areas for Mao Sun and Xing Er, following the ying and yang symbol.
Integrated Stables
— The enclosure is lifted to form space for stables below ground. This creates a natural slope, enabling the zoo's guests to see the pandas as much as possible.
Main Loop
— The visitor circulation happens along the perimeter of the round facility. The path slopes down allowing to see pandas' interior functions such as the training facility, bamboo cooler, etc.
Restaurant
— The restaurant is located between the panda house and the elephant enclosure. Having lunch, the visitors can observe both of the pandas simultaneously.
Panda Observation Center
— The green landscape melts with both the roof of the elephant house and the plants of the adjacent Nordic region. The large, green center gives the visitors an opportunity to observe the pandas from different levels.
The Panda House consists of two levels: a ground floor with the French-Asian bistro PanPan for visitors to dine while observing both the pandas and the elephants, and an upper floor with native Nordic plants and a path venturing into the dense bamboo forest. All interiors are designed to have the lush landscape at eye-level, creating an immersive experience with wildlife and nature on both sides.
“Copenhagen Zoo’s idea-driven organization was key in defining the team we wanted to work with on the new Panda House project. It’s part of our DNA to let everyone from zookeepers, to gardeners and vets, influence the design and function of the facilities to secure the well-being of our animals. The BIG team understood our approach and successfully integrated it into their design process to create a world-class home for these adored Pandas.”
The vegetation and landscape at the Panda House closely mimic the pandas’ natural habitat with patches of bamboo scattered throughout. The pandas must be able to find both shade and sun, as well as water and foliage. By creating two forests – a dense, mist forest and a light green bamboo forest, Mao Sun and Xing Er have the opportunity and flexibility to explore both landscapes, according to season, temperature and preference.
Both pandas and guests hardly notice the separation; the enclosure is elevated to form stables and other facilities below ground, which simultaneously hides and integrates them into the landscape. By lifting the earth at both ends of the yin and yang symbol, an undulating landscape forms to allow direct views into the habitat.
Bjarke Ingels Finn Nørkjær David Zahle Ole Elkjær-Larsen Luca Senise Marius Tromholt-Richter Alberto Menegazzo Alexander Jacobson Alex Bogdan Ritivoi Anna Bertolazzi Claus Rytter Bruun de Neergaard Dina Brændstrup Eskild Schack Pedersen Fabiana Cortolezzis Federica Longoni Frederik Skou Jensen Hanne Halvorsen Jesper Bo Jensen Jiajie Wang Jinseok Jang Joanna Plizga Joos Jerne Kamilla Heskje Lasse Ryberg Hansen Lone Fenger Albrechtsen Mads Mathias Pedersen Maja Czesnik Margarita Nutfulina Martino Hutz Maria Stolarikova Matthieu Brasebin Nanna Gyldholm Møller Pawel Bussold Richard Howis Seongil Choo Sergiu Calacean Sofia Sofianou Stefan Plugaru Tiago Barros Tobias Hjortdal Tommy Bjørnstrup Tore Banke Ulla Hornsyld Xiaoyi Gao Gökce Günbulut Høgni Laksafoss Carlos Soria Christian Lopez Gabrielė Ubarevičiūtė Victor Bejenaru
AWARDS
Frederiksberg Municipality's Building Award 2019
COLLABORATORS
MOE
Schønherr
