kis állatkert-történet

Arra gondoltam, először utánanézek kicsit a különböző állatkert-kialakítási elveknek. Íme erről két írás - először egy rövid átfogó történet.

Link: http://www.zoolex.org/thesis/21.html


 2.1. The Recent History of Zoo Design

Only a few zoo visitors may be aware that zoos are designed. However, when comparing different zoos, it becomes obvious that they have evolved, based on human attitudes towards nature and wildlife and the development of science and technology.


Some zoos in Europe still remind of the time of menageries which began in the thirteenth century. Zoo Schönbrunn in Vienna for example, has preserved its original architecture. This zoo was opened to the public in 1779 and kept its name menagerie until 1926 (Kunze, 2000). The idea of displaying exotic animals in strictly geometric barren enclosures comes from the desire to celebrate control over nature. The organization of animal collections at this time was mostly taxonomic, reflecting the contemporary state of scientific research in zoology.






Carl Hagenbeck greatly influenced the design of zoos in 1907, when he opened a new zoo in Stellingen, outside of Hamburg. He introduced large open dry moats and steep overhanging artificial rockwork, to show animals in panoramas without the visual obstruction of bars. Hagenbeck also broke from the taxonomic organization and arranged animals for dramatic effects. (L. Hagenbeck, 1956). These enclosures were inspired by romantic landscape paintings, but mostly inadequate for the animals contained. The technique of dry moats and artificial rockwork became very popular and can be found in many European and North American zoos today.






Because the value of exotic animals increases with their endangerment, zoos have tried to keep their animals alive by improving hygienic standards. Ceramic tiles, steel and glass have become the prevailing materials of enclosures and their furnishings, reflecting the increasing knowledge about microbiology.


While most animal enclosures look very alike in their sterility on the inside, the outside of zoo buildings has been changing with the styles in art and architecture. Many of these exhibits tragically reflect human dominance and ignorance for animal needs of their creators.






With his book "Wild Animals in Captivity", Hediger set a bench-mark in the theory of zoo design in 1950. He pointed to the relationship between deficiencies of animal behavior and inadequacies of zoo facilities. Unfortunately, behavioral problems of zoo animals are still acceptable in most places.




In 1976, Jones, Coe and Paulson (Jones et. al., 1976) introduced the concept of landscape immersion with their Long-Range Plan for Woodland Park Zoo. The idea of landscape immersion is, to replicate the species' natural environment and to place the viewer within the animal's habitat. The concept reflects the increasing awareness of the interdependence of living creatures and their environment. The organization of the animal exhibits relates to zoo-geography and takes the ecology of the site into account. Since advances in prophylaxis and medication allow the use natural materials in animal enclosures, plants have become the major feature in this type of animal exhibit.




Additionally, synthetic fibers have become popular in zoo design. Molds taken from natural forms are turned into naturalistic copies of rocks, plants or anything found in nature. Both, natural and artificial materials can be used to replicate the natural habitat of the displayed animal as convincing as possible. Lately, designer have been emphasizing the relationship between traditional people and wildlife and arranging sequences of stories about it.