LONDON ZOO London Zoo will be recast as a ‘wildlife campus’, recapturing a true sense of destination that at tracts and inspires visitors from all over the world and the UK. The design seeks to maximise the site’s unique opportunities and overarching regeneration potential, to create a visionary and sustainable framework for the future. A transformed landscape puts animals first in complex mixed-species habitats that mim- ic their natural biogeographical zones. Historic listed structures will be reimagined and repur- posed as visitor destinations that elevate the Zoo experience. A new memorable entrance
square is envisioned to the north east corner, creating a more prominent and generous welcome to the Zoo. Barclay Court will become the first impression, with an active cluster of buildings offering a renewed level of intensity. There is scope for extended opening hours and evening events here, creating a true destination for London. The ambition is to consolidate conservation, science, veteri- nary and wildlife health facilities to allow these functions to be part of the visitor experience, offering glimpses of the many activities that currently happen
behind the scenes. Additional commercial buildings, as part of a commercial Multi-Univer- sity Hub, can offer partnership opportunities with educational, tech and finance companies right on the doorstep of Lon- don’s Knowledge Quarter. A diversified commercial mix will attract new audiences and providing a more sustainable, stable and diversified income to support ZSL’s global conser- vation mission. Proposed along side the new workspaces are a wider range of accommodation options, enabling students, researchers and visitors alike to stay longer and engage with ZSL on a deeper level.
THE MASTER PLAN
THE ZSL VISION
ZSL is a global science-led conservation charity helping people and wildlife live better together, to restore the wonder and diversity of life everywhere. Through our leading Zoos, we bring people closer to nature in shared spaces of wonder and unique centres of learning, advancing knowledge to better protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow. As we approach our 200th anniversary in 2026, we have developed a 10-20 year vision for our estate across our how our two UK centres of excellence: ZSL Regent’s Park and ZSL Whipsnade. The framework plans represent a root-and branch rethink of what a 21st century scientific Zoo should and could be, and sets a strategic direction of travel for ZSL that will enable us to use our considerable physical assets much more effectively to achieve our goals. A mix of projects will combine to strengthen ZSL’s offering and amplify our impact as a global conservation organisation and centre of excellence in wildlife science and conservation. At the future Zoo, the visitor will be invited to engage more vividly and deeply with wildlife, and learn about the work that ZSL does in-situ through immersive environments which alllow for different
individual projects to evolve over time. Each of the projects will require further detailed design, planning approval and public consultation as part of its realisation. The plans identify opportunities for consolidation of uses as well as repurposing and restructuring of the Zoos’ sites. New opportunities for infrastructure and the built environment are highlighted, as well as the potential to reuse buildings that are unused, underused or not fit for purpose. Many of the unused ‘legacy’ buildings no longer meet animal husbandry welfare standards, and could become spaces for people instead. Often, facilities are scattered across the site, and there is an opportunity to bring these together in purpose- built and more efficient buildings or clusters of buildings. The scale of the vision at both Zoos is significant, and changes will take place over several decades. It is therefore important to allow for sufficient flexibility in the plans to ensure that they can withstand the test of time, and adapt with changing needs and regulations, market forces and financial realities. In this context, the plans provide the backbones of the place, with options and variables possible for many of the buildings and sites across the two Zoos.
NorthBank
SouthBank
Snowdon Aviary
Conservation TechQuarter/ Multi-University Hub
New Entrance
ZSL Institute ofBiodiversity
Asian Forest
African Forest
Mappin Terraces
Casson Pavilion
African Savannah
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