South Pond, Lincoln Park Zoo
Share
At a glance
- Project by: Studio Gang Architects
- Location: Chicago, IL, United States
Preview image
© Beth Zacherle
Project images
|
South Pond, Lincoln Park Zoo © Beth Zacherle View project image |
|
South Pond, Lincoln Park Zoo © Beth Zacherle View project image |
|
South Pond, Lincoln Park Zoo © Beth Zacherle View project image |
|
South Pond, Lincoln Park Zoo © Beth Zacherle View project image |
|
South Pond, Lincoln Park Zoo © Spirit of Space View project image |
Architect's statement
Lincoln Park Zoo wished to increase its visibility by improving the South Pond and maintaining its image as a safe, clean, environmentally responsible institute that is committed to education.
The design transforms a dilapidated, 19th- century urban park pond fed by city tap water into a natural habitat and an exhibit on “pond life” for the zoo. Improvements include pond rehabilitation, landscape, accessible pathways, educational pavilions and exhibit design. The zoo’s image and mission are supported through the design’s integration of habitat and architecture.
The design called for deepening the pond to provide better oxygenation to support aquatic life and the reestablishment of the watershed around the pond. Plant shelves now filter run-off water to improve water quality and to create habitat zones for animals.
A boardwalk made of recycled plastic milk bottles circumscribes the pond and passes through different educational zones describing animals, plants and habitats. Two pavilions integrated into the boardwalk sequence provide shelter for open-air classrooms on the site. Their structures, inspired by the tortoise shell, consist of a series of pre-fabricated wooden members interconnected and milled to give global curvature to the surface, creating a column-free space for gathering.
Details/Credits
- Client: Lincoln Park Zoo
- Location: Chicago, IL, USA
- Architects: Studio Gang Architects
- Unique characteristics: The flexible design takes on a number of roles, including functioning as an outdoor classroom and community meeting space
- Size: 4 acres
- Cost: $6 M
- Completion: 2010
Related links
- American architecture
- Architecture projects from United States
- Studio Gang Architects website
- Studio Gang Architects
