The basic structure and entrance of this building date back to 1893 and were originally designed and constructed as the "Bird Palace" by Antwerp Zoo's then architect Emile Thielens (1854-1911) who also designed several other buildings in Antwerp Zoo including the restaurant pavillion, the bovine house, the office and conference building and the winter garden. In 1950 it was extensively renovated and expanded due to damage sustained in the Second World War by architect René Grosemans (who also designed the small monkey house and the jubileum complex and modified a few other buildings) . During this renovation only the facade and entrance were kept in their original form as designed by Thielens. It was most recently modified and renovated (both on the inside and outside) with the help of Erik Van Vliet in 2012-2013.
