Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have released images of
Copenhagen Zoo's giant pandas settling into its completed yin-yang-shaped enclosure.
Construction of the Panda House
began in 2017 and earlier this year it became home to Mao Sun and Xing Er, who are being loaned from China to Denmark.
BIG designed the 2,450sq m (26,400sq ft) enclosure with the wellbeing of the pandas and with the potential for their mating in mind.
It is designed to resemble their natural bamboo forest habitat – with water, foliage and patches of bamboo scattered throughout – and to provide a peaceful living environment.
There is a dense, misty forest environment and a light green bamboo forest environment that the pandas can explore according to season, temperature and preference.
It is also split into two separate sections, allowing the typically solitary animals to spend time alone.
An undulating landscape is informed by that of the pandas' natural environment but also allows facilities to be integrated underground.
For visitors, the experience is split between indoor and outdoor and across two levels. There is an open-air path around the enclosure's upper perimeter and an enclosed viewing area on the lower level with a restaurant from where visitors can look into the enclosure while eating.
