zoo design forum?

[zudzine]

Hi

I am working with a zoo design team in Asia, and I would love to hear your inputs regarding designing animal exhibits as most designers do not seem to take into account keeper or animal comfort and emphasize more on artistic creativity.

I am surprised that there is no separate forum for exhibit design on zoo chat?!

Thanks for including me in the forum and hoping to learn from you all and incorporate your suggestions in my designs.

Cheers!

 

[Zooplantman]

Hi

I am working with a zoo design team in Asia, and I would love to hear your inputs regarding designing animal exhibits as most designers do not seem to take into account keeper or animal comfort and emphasize more on artistic creativity.

I am surprised that there is no separate forum for exhibit design on zoo chat?!

Thanks for including me in the forum and hoping to learn from you all and incorporate your suggestions in my designs.

Cheers!

Hello and welcome

Why do you state

most designers do not seem to take into account keeper or animal comfort and emphasize more on artistic creativity.

That has not been my experience. Usually the client (the zoo) makes all decisions about keeper requirements and animal needs. The design team basically makes certain that those client requirements are met. But I have never seen a design team dictate to the client what keeper and care facilities should be.
In many cases, zoo directors or curators make these decisions and keeper may object or be left out of the meetings, but that is the client's decision not the designers.
Are things different in Asia? (Asia is a big place!)

 

[zudzine]

Hi Zooplantman,

I seem to have missed seeing your reply to my post. Thank you for the welcome. Perhaps where you are based, there is a lot of interaction between the designer and the zoo counterparts. In South Asia, where I am currently based, I've seen zoo officials leave everything to the consultant, and not really provide inputs on their needs especially from a zookeeper level, since not a lot of zoo keepers in this part of the world are highly educated or have a background in animal sciences.

Hence lot of facilities look good from the visitor's side, but the behind the scenes facilities are poorly executed.

Apologies for a late reply...