....... The Netherlands ........ Menno Lam
Menno Lam, Bennekom, near Arnhem, The Netherlands : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2006
[ zoological building : timber : natural ventilation : solar access : animal welfare ]
Savannah Giraffe House, Rotterdam Zoo, The Netherlands
This building is designed to serve and house the giraffes with their welfare in mind. For an extraordinary experience by the visiting public, people are 3 metres above the ground level and can look the giraffes in the eyes.
The design owes its specific characteristics to an holistic design approach, it uses natural principles and no fossil fuels. It is comfortable for the animals, and user-friendly for visitors, energy effective, with very low impact on the environment during building, during its life and if has to be disassembled.
For a good indoor climate, the natural elements – sun, wind, rain – play an important role. Natural ventilation contributes to the pleasant atmosphere for the giraffes due to orienting the ventilation openings away from the prevailing winds, negative air pressure pulls the wind through the building.
Natural light and solar heat are integrated in a passive way due to appropriate orientation to the sun. The height of the transparent roof and of the walls, are determined to give the best solar potential, bot inside and outside. On a sunny winter or autumn day, the giraffes are able to stand at the north side outside the building and still receive sunlight. On cold and cloudy days, it usually sufficient to only the animals, instead of the whole 4600cu.m of the building. This is done with ‘low temperature cuddle walls’, elements where the giraffes can find the necessary warmth that are heated by burning woodchips. The annual rainfall collected from the roof of 330cu.m is stored underground and used for the plants in the adjoining crocodile enclosure.
The hybrid structure of the building is principally created with curved laminated timber ribs. For animal welfare the plan is oval, with no corners, so that weaker animals cannot be ‘cornered’ by stronger animals. The ‘bulging’ walls, give the animals more freedom. The giraffes have less awareness of the physical limits of the building, which provides a relaxed atmosphere for the small herd.
Photos : Franken Architectural Photography : Rob Doolaard
Menno Lam Architects -