Interview: Michiel Buchel
Michiel Buchel is Ecsite’s new president and CEO of the Netherland’s biggest science centre, NEMO. He shares his optimism about the science centre sector and the secrets of NEMO’s success
Attractions: All Work, All Play
KidZania, star of the edutainment world, has opened its newest franchise in London, its 17th location to date. We meet the global top team to find out what makes these small cities a big success
Analysis: Be Our Guest
TEA/AECOM’s 2014 Theme Index shows attendance growth across all regions. AECOM experts analyse the recent trends
Enclosure for African Apes, Wilhelma Stuttgart, Germany Hascher Jehle Architects The new ape enclosure at the Wilhelma in Stuttgart uses the themes of ridge, valley and forest. An S-shaped path winds between two areas: one for gorillas and one for bonobos. The winding path allows views of the animals on either side and the enclosure is lit by large skylights. Outside, there’s a close-contact zone where people and apes can stand face-to-face separated only by armoured glazing.
The ape enclosure is at the highest point of the zoological gardens
Smells and sounds from the gorilla exhibit can be experienced by visitors
Giant Panda Forest, Adelaide Zoo Adelaide, Australia Hassell Architects Hassell designed a panda exhibit for Adelaide Zoo, alongside a new entrance plaza to cope with the expected increase in visitor numbers. The Giant Panda Forest is an immersive landscape resembling the Chinese Highlands. According to Hassell, the exhibit is designed to exceed best practices in animal management, with a state-of-the-art holding facility, water features, rocks and mature trees.
As well as simulating the pandas’ natural habitat, the exhibit explains research and conservation work.
Giant pandas Funi and Wang Wang arrived at Adelaide Zoo in 2009
St Petersburg Zoo St Petersburg, Russia TN Plus and Beckmann-N’Thépe The new zoo for St Petersburg – the project is currently on hold – is inspired by the lost supercontinent of Pangaea. Different areas of the planet will be represented in different zones, with a winter circuit that links greenhouses and covered areas designed to attract visitors in the cold season from November to April. The site’s water body will be central to the design and visitor experience, and the zoo will be connected to the city by a network of boats.
Architects Beckmann N’Thépe and landscape designers TN Plus won a competition to design the zoo
Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park, Zurich Zoo Zurich, Switzerland Markus Schietsch This contemporary structure, located among natural vegetation and housing 10 elephants, will allow visitors to be immersed in the habitat of the animal. They’ll walk on dense pathways and watch elephants dive into the water from a viewing point. The patterns in the shell-shaped wooden roof filter light into the interior. The architectural elements and landscaping of the elephant house interact with one another to create a nature-inspired experience.
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE MARC WEHRLI
The elephant facility opened in 2014 and cost $60m (£39m, €54m)
Giraffe House, Auckland Zoo Auckland, New Zealand Monk Mackenzie A giraffe breeding shelter was completed for Auckland Zoo in 2013 to cater for the attraction’s growing giraffe population. The shelter had to be functional and comfortable for the animals, with an area for the keepers and a viewing platform for visitors. The sliding doors and walls are moveable, and the yards can be configured into different layouts, making the giraffe house highly flexible. To fit to a small budget, a limited range of locally sourced materials was used.
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
Interview: Michiel Buchel
Michiel Buchel is Ecsite’s new president and CEO of the Netherland’s biggest science centre, NEMO. He shares his optimism about the science centre sector and the secrets of NEMO’s success
Attractions: All Work, All Play
KidZania, star of the edutainment world, has opened its newest franchise in London, its 17th location to date. We meet the global top team to find out what makes these small cities a big success
Analysis: Be Our Guest
TEA/AECOM’s 2014 Theme Index shows attendance growth across all regions. AECOM experts analyse the recent trends
Enclosure for African Apes, Wilhelma Stuttgart, Germany Hascher Jehle Architects The new ape enclosure at the Wilhelma in Stuttgart uses the themes of ridge, valley and forest. An S-shaped path winds between two areas: one for gorillas and one for bonobos. The winding path allows views of the animals on either side and the enclosure is lit by large skylights. Outside, there’s a close-contact zone where people and apes can stand face-to-face separated only by armoured glazing.
The ape enclosure is at the highest point of the zoological gardens
Smells and sounds from the gorilla exhibit can be experienced by visitors
Giant Panda Forest, Adelaide Zoo Adelaide, Australia Hassell Architects Hassell designed a panda exhibit for Adelaide Zoo, alongside a new entrance plaza to cope with the expected increase in visitor numbers. The Giant Panda Forest is an immersive landscape resembling the Chinese Highlands. According to Hassell, the exhibit is designed to exceed best practices in animal management, with a state-of-the-art holding facility, water features, rocks and mature trees.
As well as simulating the pandas’ natural habitat, the exhibit explains research and conservation work.
Giant pandas Funi and Wang Wang arrived at Adelaide Zoo in 2009
St Petersburg Zoo St Petersburg, Russia TN Plus and Beckmann-N’Thépe The new zoo for St Petersburg – the project is currently on hold – is inspired by the lost supercontinent of Pangaea. Different areas of the planet will be represented in different zones, with a winter circuit that links greenhouses and covered areas designed to attract visitors in the cold season from November to April. The site’s water body will be central to the design and visitor experience, and the zoo will be connected to the city by a network of boats.
Architects Beckmann N’Thépe and landscape designers TN Plus won a competition to design the zoo
Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park, Zurich Zoo Zurich, Switzerland Markus Schietsch This contemporary structure, located among natural vegetation and housing 10 elephants, will allow visitors to be immersed in the habitat of the animal. They’ll walk on dense pathways and watch elephants dive into the water from a viewing point. The patterns in the shell-shaped wooden roof filter light into the interior. The architectural elements and landscaping of the elephant house interact with one another to create a nature-inspired experience.
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE MARC WEHRLI
The elephant facility opened in 2014 and cost $60m (£39m, €54m)
Giraffe House, Auckland Zoo Auckland, New Zealand Monk Mackenzie A giraffe breeding shelter was completed for Auckland Zoo in 2013 to cater for the attraction’s growing giraffe population. The shelter had to be functional and comfortable for the animals, with an area for the keepers and a viewing platform for visitors. The sliding doors and walls are moveable, and the yards can be configured into different layouts, making the giraffe house highly flexible. To fit to a small budget, a limited range of locally sourced materials was used.
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
PHOTO: JONNY DAVIS
The architects describe Giraffe House as a “functional oversized shed”
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
