Panda habitat for Copenhagen Zooadmin2019-01-11T15:08:26+01:00 Panda habitat for Copenhagen ZooThe two Chinese pandas Mao Sun and He Xing are moving to their own specially designed habitat at Copenhagen Zoo. Bjarke Ingels Group, Schønherr and Artelia are behind this unique construction project, where the user involvement also encompasses two curious bears. The new panda habitat for the two residents Mao Sun and He Xing will have a central location at the zoo. The habitat will not only focus on the well-being of the bears. The very nature of the panda is also behind the aesthetic considerations for the architecture. In nature, male and female pandas live separately and only meet once a year during the very brief period when the female is in heat, which is why they are called the “hermits of the forest” in Chinese. Therefore, the two pandas will be living apart most of the time, but they will still be able to sense each other. The solution here was a habitat inspired by the Chinese yin-yang symbol, which precisely represents two complementary and mutually dependent halves. The design also takes into account that there must be a male habitat, a female habitat, a common area and a birthing cave, if the zoo is so fortunate that the two pandas mate. A challenging design The round building with the double curved concrete structures will be in situ constructed This is a challenging construction task that requires at least as much technical skill on the installation side. The construction project is very installation heavy in several areas. For example, power must be wired for lighting, surveillance cameras, info stands with screens, and a restaurant. Christian Lyager is responsible for the electrical installations and says that both the aesthetics and functionality place additional demands on the installation work: “All the installations need to be concealed,and this is no easy task when working with in situ poured concrete. In addition, there are not many suspended ceilings with space for the installations, and there are glass facades every where, even in the stalls. Of course we must also take the pandas into account. They are extremely curious by nature and take apart anything they can get a hold of. So inside the habitat we have concealed the installations inside artificial rocks.” Christian LyagerSenior Design EngineerElectrical Installations Panda Habitat for Copenhagen Zoo Client Copenhagen Zoo Architect BIG Natural habitat of the panda It is important to simulate the panda’s natural environment, and therefore the habitat has a hilly landscape with a great wealth of plants,rocks and small streams. At the same time, the site is located at a lower level than the surrounding terrain to the south and the existing “Nordic” habitat to the east. In this respect, civil works engineer Pernille Konner has been responsible for the construction pit and sheet piling: ”My work has demanded a great deal of coordination. Both with the landscape architects and all the engineering disciplines. There are many installations in the ground. I have coordinated a great deal with our HVAC engineers, who have been responsible for streams and a water purifying plant that ensures that all the water is recycled.” Pernille KonnerProject ManagerCivil Works Both engineers highlight the inspiring and un-conventional process. The project has to a great extent been adapted through regular dialogue with the zoo, which requires more flexibility on the part of the consultants. The dialogue with the zoo keepers has played a major role: “There has been a lot of good and exciting input. After all, they are the ones who will be working here on a daily basis afterwards, so they know much better what the workflow will be like. It is very inspiring,” Christian Lyager concludes.
