Natura Artis Magistra

The old Amsterdam Artis Zoo is creating more space for plants and animals, but also for education and cultural heritage. Bureau B+B contributed to this with several projects: Outdoor accommodation for the Gibbons, a nest house for the red panda’s, the accommodation for the African wild dogs and a playground.
The red iconic object refers to the temples in the natural habitat of the gibbons. The red panda’s nest house is placed between the bushes and trees of their outdoor accommodation. This structure also refers to a temple. The bamboo with which it is thatched makes it less conspicuous than the gibbons house. Outside of the renovated monkey- and birdhouse, a playground is designed, especially for toddlers. A large dish serves as a sand box. There is a ‘humming rock’ that makes special sounds, a climbing rock and stepping stones. The African wild dogs get a new outdoor accommodation, derived from their natural environment: the African steppes. Sand, rocks and a pond create a rough open terrain where they can frolic between the red branches of the dogwood. The African wild dogs reside in the old ‘Wolf House’. The Wolf House is renovated and brought back to its original state: fancy and stately, in harmony with the outdoor accommodation.