I think Stacey looks from one particular standpoint: zoo exhibits as storytelling.
I agree that Afrykarium at Wroclaw has architectural flaws. It is a huge looming building not fitting its surroundings. Exhibits are made so that visitors see each other and the background, breaking the optical illusion of wildlife.
I think organization of a zoo design conference is a sign that Wroclaw zoo management seriously thinks about design, too. However, some things are result of different zoo priorities, like concentrating on endangered species and giving them enough space before creating optical illusions of nature. There are constraints. An old European zoo has to preserve historic buildings and old trees, so cannot create artificial landscapes like Disney theme parks (which seem to be the author's ideal). Wroclaw zoo first had to show a building design, then win money for it. As a result, penguins and fur seals (both apparently largest pools for these species in Europe) are surrounded from outside the Afrykarium complex by a wall with only small viewing windows. It is apparently because the Afrykarium was originally designed to be near wall of the zoo, and these were to be viewing windows from the public street.