Architecture

Planned Panda House goes BIG on yin and yang

Planned Panda House goes BIG on yin and yang
The Panda House is due to begin construction later this year, providing the required 150 million DKK (around US$17.7 million) funding is raised
The Panda House is due to begin construction later this year, providing the required 150 million DKK (around US$17.7 million) funding is raised
View 12 Images
The Panda House is due to begin construction later this year, providing the required 150 million DKK (around US$17.7 million) funding is raised
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The Panda House is due to begin construction later this year, providing the required 150 million DKK (around US$17.7 million) funding is raised
Copenhagen Zoo already boasts one starchitect-designed animal enclosure, Foster + Partners' award-winning Elephant House, and BIG's Panda House will be next to it
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Copenhagen Zoo already boasts one starchitect-designed animal enclosure, Foster + Partners' award-winning Elephant House, and BIG's Panda House will be next to it
The Panda House's circular viewing loop, spread over two separate levels will enable visitors to watch the pandas from multiple points
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The Panda House's circular viewing loop, spread over two separate levels will enable visitors to watch the pandas from multiple points
The Panda House will measure a total of 2,450 sq m (26,371 sq ft), roughly halved into indoor and outdoor space
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The Panda House will measure a total of 2,450 sq m (26,371 sq ft), roughly halved into indoor and outdoor space
The Panda House is due to be completed in 2018
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The Panda House is due to be completed in 2018
"Architecture is like portraiture. To design a home for someone is like capturing their essence, their character and personality in built form," says Bjarke Ingels in a press release
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"Architecture is like portraiture. To design a home for someone is like capturing their essence, their character and personality in built form," says Bjarke Ingels in a press release
According to BIG, the vegetation and layout of the Panda House will mimic the pandas’ natural environment
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According to BIG, the vegetation and layout of the Panda House will mimic the pandas’ natural environment
The Panda House will also include a visitor's restaurant
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The Panda House will also include a visitor's restaurant 
A circular viewing loop will let visitors view both animals at multiple points, as well as check out the zookeepers going about their work at Panda House
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A circular viewing loop will let visitors view both animals at multiple points, as well as check out the zookeepers going about their work at Panda House
With pandas being notoriously difficult to breed, there's some nice symbolism in Panda House about yin and yang and opposites attracting
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With pandas being notoriously difficult to breed, there's some nice symbolism in Panda House about yin and yang and opposites attracting
Architectural drawing of the Panda House
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Architectural drawing of the Panda House
Architectural drawing of the Panda House
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Architectural drawing of the Panda House
View gallery - 12 images

High-profile architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has unveiled a new panda habitat for Denmark's Copenhagen Zoo. The unique enclosure features a design inspired by the yin and yang symbol and promises excellent views of the animals. Assuming it goes ahead, it'll be completed in 2018.

Copenhagen Zoo already boasts a starchitect-designed animal enclosure in the form of Foster + Partners' award-winning Elephant House. BIG's Panda House will be situated right next to it and will measure 2,450 sq m (26,371 sq ft) over two stories. The enclosure will be split into two parts, one for each panda.

With pandas being so difficult to breed, there's some nice symbolism going on here with yin and yang and opposites attracting, but on a more practical level, the divided enclosure separates the famously solitary bears and ensures each one can't see, hear, or smell its prospective mate until the time's right.

A circular viewing loop will let visitors view both animals at multiple points, as well as check out the zookeepers going about their work at Panda House
A circular viewing loop will let visitors view both animals at multiple points, as well as check out the zookeepers going about their work at Panda House

A circular viewing platform will let visitors view the animals at multiple points, as well as check out zookeepers going about their work. A restaurant will also allow visitors to gaze into the pandas' home as they eat.

According to BIG, the Panda House's vegetation and layout will mimic the pandas' natural environment, offering a nice variation of shade and sun, water and foliage, and a sloping landscape. The firm says that the idea is "to feel like humans are the visitors in the pandas' home, rather than pandas being the exotic guests from faraway lands."

Copenhagen Zoo, Schønherr Landscape Architects, and MOE collaborated on the Panda House project too, and construction is due to begin later this year – providing the required 150 million DKK (around US$17.7 million) funding is secured.

Source: BIG

View gallery - 12 images
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