A team at dan pearlman, a leading brand and experience architecture group, was responsible for developing a master plan and supervising the implementation of the new ARALANDIA aviary at Wuppertal Zoo in Germany, under the leadership of Kieran Stanley, CEO dan pearlman experience architecture.
ARALANDIA is one of the biggest aviaries in Europe and is home to endangered hyacinth macaws as well as many other species of bird, such as conures and pudus. Within the free-flight aviary, visitors can observe the inhabitants close up.
See macaws at close quarters
This new project is part of Wuppertal Zoo’s ‘Green Zoo 2020’ concept and aims to make conservation education an enjoyable experience, creating transparency through storytelling.
These macaws are a flagship species for nature conservation in Brazil and signify the zoo’s close cooperation with the Loro Parque Foundation and other associated projects. Before they enter ARALANDIA, guests are provided with information on the animals and their habitat. Then, the footpath brings them through the redesigned nature-coloured kiosk and into the enclosure itself.
The nature path leads into a half-dry savanna area where they can view coloured macaws, which stand out vibrantly alongside a stream and a red clay rock face, for a unique photo opportunity. The path heads above a small waterfall and explores a cave, where visitors can learn more about the themed stable building and enjoy an elevated wooden deck with views over the aviary.
Following this, the path takes them down past a pond with water turtles and then into the Ara Discovery Gallery. This area provides a deeper dive into the subject of conservation and highlights some of the zoo’s key projects.
Architecturally, the aviary was carefully designed according to the space requirements and also features curved metal arcs over 30 metres long, which echo the wings of a bird. These arcs are then covered with black meshwork for transparency, allowing the landscape to flow naturally through the overall structure of the aviary.
Last year, the dan pearlman Group also worked on the pilot DREAM YOUR CITY project in Berlin, enabling a collective exchange on the city’s future.
