Studio Gang’s Curvaceous Wood Pavilion at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo

Posted By Bridgette Meinhold On October 10, 2011 @ 6:30 pm In Architecture,Prefab Housing,Sustainable Building | 1 Comment

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Part yoga pavilion, part outdoor classroom, the South Pond Pavilion at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo ^[6] is a stunning architectural statement located along the Zoo's new Nature Boardwalk. Designed by Chicago-based Studio Gang Architects ^[7], the prefab pavilion ^[8] is part of a larger effort to rehabilitate the zoo's dilapidated pond into a natural habitat and exhibit of pond life. The project also features a boardwalk made from recycled plastic milk bottles, and other educational components.

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Image © Beth Zacherle

Studio Gang Architects ^[10]‘ design for the South Pond Pavilion was inspired by the tortoise shell. It features pre-fabricated wooden planks ^[8] that have been interconnected and milled to form the curving structural members. The top of the pavilion is covered semi-transparent fiberglass pods, which let light filter in while still protecting those underneath. Yoga classes and other educational programs use the pavilion regularly.

The pavilion ^[11] is part of a larger redevelopment of the pond at the Lincoln Park Zoo designed by Studio Gang. Their project largely consists of rehabilitating a dilapidated, 19th century urban park pond fed by city tap water into an exhibit on pond life. The depth of the pond was increased to improve oxygenation for aquatic life, and a wetland ^[12] was engineered along the water’s edge with new plantings and drainage to encourage new wildlife and vegetation. A boardwalk made from recycled plastic now circles the pond and includes educational kiosks.

+ Studio Gang Architects ^[7]

+ Lincoln Park Zoo ^[6]

Lead Image © John Picken ^[13]

Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/curvaceious-wood-pavilion-at-chicagos-lincoln-park-zoo/

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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/curvaceious-wood-pavilion-at-chicagos-lincoln-park-zoo/

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[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/curvaceious-wood-pavilion-at-chicagos-lincoln-park-zoo/south-pond-pavilion-spirit-of-space-2/?extend=1

[6] Lincoln Park Zoo: http://www.lpzoo.org/

[7] Studio Gang Architects: http://www.studiogang.net/projects_a5.htm

[8] prefab pavilion: http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/04/latticed-french-pavilion-shades-a-green-walled-interior/

[9] Image: http://inhabitat.com/curvaceious-wood-pavilion-at-chicagos-lincoln-park-zoo/south-pond-pavilion-beth-zacherle-2/

[10] Studio Gang Architects: http://www.studiogang.net/

[11] pavilion: http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/23/beautiful-german-pavillion-made-from-1300-shipping-pallets/

[12] wetland: http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/18/weedoo-electric-airboat-could-clean-up-gulf-wetlands/

[13] John Picken: http://www.flickr.com/photos/picken/

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