Pangaea in St Petersburg

Architects Beckmann N'Thépé and landscape designers TN PLUS have designed a new zoo for St Peterburg, Russia, which is expected to be completed in 2014. The zoo will reunite Pangaea, the super continent that existed hundreds of millions of years ago. The zoo will consist of islands that represent the earths various zones: Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, North America and Eurasia, all next to one another like they were before the continents split. The design of the zoo is therefore closely linked to geological history, providing opportunities for education about the movement of the tectonic plates and how the world has changed in its long history. By providing the animals with large enclosures and mimicking the land- scape and botanical species of each continent, the zoo will give visitors the impres- sion of exploring faraway continents. For the architects, however, the very fist con- sideration was the wellness of the animals themselves, and creating a balance between the man-made nature of architecture and the natural landscapes that will be so important to the zoo. The zoo’s location in Russia with its harsh winter climate was also a serious factor. With temperatures frequently dropping below -25 degrees and with little daylight, indoors shelters have to be generous. Made from ultra-light ETFE the greenhouses will shelter the tropical animals throughout the long winter.