New Entrance Precinct

The proposed Entrance Precinct comprises both landscape and built components. The concept for the design focuses upon a natural transition and transparent connection between Frome Road and Plane Tree Drive, Botanic Park and First Creek, as well as the creation of a unique entry to the Adelaide Zoo.

The landscape design seeks to achieve this vision through the creation of linked public forecourts interwoven between both the built and landscaped environments. This provides the visitor with a starting point for their journey through the Adelaide Zoo and reinforces bothe the proposed building design and the Zoo's objective of creating sustainable places.

The design provides linkages to the arboretum and seeks to remove the distinction between the land owned by DEH, Zoos SA and Adelaide Botanic Gardens. As a result, pedestrians will experience the natural park land setting and are easily able to move between places.

A key challenge has been to create a public space that communicates the aspirations of the Adelaide Zoo with regards to conservation and sustainability. Using the site context of the adjacent park lands, the landscape tells the story of the original inhabitants, environment and interrelationships between natural systems.

The forecourt design seeks to highlight contrast between the adjacent, highly manicured Arboretum and original riverine landscape. Like the landscape elements, the built form has been designed to acknowledge the natural landscape and environment. This has been achieved in two ways, firstly the built form is used to define a variety of external public spaces that flow throughout the site, connecting and containing three primary forecourts. Secondly, the built form is designed to complement the park setting and address the concept of sustainability through the extensive use of 'green' roof and 'green' walls on the primary building.