Within the studio of Building Upon Building, we were tasked with the experimental preservation of Lubetkin’s Grade 1 listed Penguin Pool. Historically, socially and architecturally significant, this preservation had to explore concepts that would restore this structure to modern relevance, in its current context. Additionally, a new center for the ZSL and a new enclosure had to be intertwined within this scheme. Taking inspiration from the primarily geometric form and connections to nature seen within aspects of the Penguin Pool, this project aims to provide a sympathetic landscape rooted in its contextual surroundings of London Zoo and the wider Regents Park. Using biophilic and ecological design as an objective, opening up this landscape into an interactive nature reserve connects pool, zoo, and park into a walkable and diverse landscape with the aim of fostering a connection to nature.
1 / 1 0 0 L o n g S e c t i o n A - A
Ground Floor Plan
Level -1 Plan
Level -2 Plan
Inspired by Regents Park’s historical context, the picturesque is a key design principle with framed views and user experience at the forefront of this scheme. Instead of creating an enclosure for animals, creating open habitats, which includes buildings themselves, creates an opportunity for our own local biodiversity to flourish. This consideration for our surrounding environments is a contemporary issue increasingly prevalent within our climate crisis. This project showcases an example of biophilic design and ecological practices and how this can be integrated within our man-made environments.
1 / 1 0 0 S h o r t P a r t i a l S e c t i o n B - B
I n t e r i o r A t m o s p h e r i c
R e n d e r
Using curved forms to create a sensory seating area, this space uses an abundance of local fauna and green walls to create an exterior landscape indoors. Lightwells provide light to the floor underneath continuing natural sunlight through the building. This view showcases the biophilic nature of this design, aiming to blur the boundaries of interior and exterior landscape and create coexistence of ecology.
This perspective showcases the materiality of the building contrasting manmade and natural materials. Plywood is used throughout the building, providing a minimalistic surface that has a natural appearance; this provides continuity and links all buildings together through aesthetic qualities. Paired with the exposed structure, the thematic of wood throughout the buildings showcases the manmade construction of natural materials.
1 / 20 T e c h n i c a l S e c t i o n + P a r t E l e v a t i o n
M a s t e r p l a n
M a s t e r p l a n P r o g r a m
Developing a master plan, I wanted to explore how human activity and nature can be combined and cohabit. Expanding upon previous concept diagrams, I altered the original site to include wetlands and waterscape to create greater habitat for native species of birds, mammals, fish, and fauna. The route towards the building is designed as an elevated walkway, in which users could experience and revel in their local environment. This route inspired by themes of the picturesque, incorporates a biophilic inspired playground as well as a picnic area, bird hide, and wooden pavilions as markers of each area. The overarching schematic of this plan is to allow harmony in experiencing ecology and our local green spaces with both humans and wildlife alike.
Playground Sketch Render
Bird Hide Sketch Render
L o c a l E c o l o g y C o n s e r v a t i o n
Greenspace Within Masterplan
Original Site Greenspace
O r i g i n a l C o n c e p t S k e t c h e s
