VERTICAL SAFARI

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VERTICAL SAFARI

Type

Cultural › Cultural Center
Educational › Library
Industrial › Research Facility
Landscape + Planning › Public Park

SIZE

1,000,000 +

BUDGET

$100M +

Zoo design is in the midst of an evolution taking
place around the world. The key issue is how allow the Buenos Aires Vertical
Zoo, becoming a real gateway to the natural world, being the display of live
animals, encouraging visitors to take action benefitting wildlife and
ecosystems.

We propose that the whole zoo experience be inspired
by the aim of modern Safaris. Consisting an overland journey, a trip taken for
observes and photograph wildlife, travelling among protected areas, taking care about to
be low impact and often small scale. Usually visitors can drive in their own vehicles
and observe the wildlife, rather than viewing animals in cages or small
enclosures. That concept is according with the “immersion exhibit” trends, showing
animals in their own nature context.

We propose to add an unexpected bonus… an observation
wheel to create a dramatic and surprising city sightseeing safari! An
astonishing new kind of building, issue of several trends emerging
architectural and urban icons. It can be defined as a hybrid that merges the skyscraper,
the safari zoo, and the Ferry’s Wheel into an ecological urban new beacon,
creating a dynamic civic building attractive for a very wider public.

Located in the projection of the visual axe joining the
Reserve area to the Obelisk, the Observation wheel is the nerve center of the
whole complex Zoo. Turning very slowly the observation wheel takes 30 minutes
to complete a half circuit. Arrived to the top of the circuit, visitors can
make a pause and enjoy sightseeing options at the visitor’s facilities level. It
holds the educational program and the cafeteria, gift and souvenirs shop etc.
That level is suspended into the void of the master volume above the wheel
providing various dramatics and unexpected view sights to visitors.