Zoo Design, Inc.

01/19/2021

Happy New Year! We look forward to new connections and opportunities in the new year.

05/03/2020

Our focus in Zoo Design Inc is to create unforgettable experiences of connection with nature and animals. We strive to create experiences that support our understanding of importance of wildlife and wild places and, in every detail, showcase of our respect to animals as our fellow inhabitants of Earth.

We draw and talk a lot explaining why it is important to built zoo habitats that are green and alive, that replicate home-like landscapes for resident animals. Yet, the planting budget seem to be the first to go...

That is why we welcome a newly published study associating improved human health with immersive exhibit experience in zoos. In this study the authors investigated physiological changes in salivary cortisol and blood pressure, as well as psychological changes among visitors before and after a walk through the River’s Edge, an immersive, naturalistic exhibit at the Saint Louis Zoo. Study participants had a significant reduction in salivary cortisol and blood pressure after walking through the exhibit. Psychological assessments of mood found that most visitors felt happier, more energized, and less tense after the visit. The authors suggest that these positive changes could be contributed to time spend together in natural environment, encountering animals in natural green space where the visitors can self report perception of good welfare of the animal in exhibits. The study can by found here https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0231383

In conclusion, this study provides us with another, peer-reviewed, argument to push for bigger portion of budgets of our projects to be dedicated to creating living landscapes. If you do not take the 'good-for-animals' argument, please be informed - immersive naturalistic zoo exhibits are good for us!

Zoological institutions often use immersive, naturalistic exhibits to create an inclusive atmosphere that is inviting for visitors while providing for the welfare of animals in their collections. In this study, we investigated physiological changes in salivary cortisol and blood pressure, as well as...

05/01/2020

We might be expecting changes to physical environment of zoos following the corona virus crises. Some changes will be simple, such as introducing creative ways to motivate people to way their hands, other changes will be more limiting. So far we are hearing about controlling the number of visitors per area, closing indoor exhibits, emphasizing strictly one-way traffic. We are seeing zoos creating drive-thru experiences in previously pedestrian zoos, such as in San Antonio Zoo. Some zoos are arranging for VIP guided tours for small family groups that include visits to back-of-house and hospitality stops and extend beyond regular visitor hours.

Zoo animals are changing their behaviour due to the quiet times as well. Most remarkably pandas had been observed to mate. Zoo folks know that it is extremely difficult to motivate pandas to the act, so this is trully remarkable. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pandas-mate-ocean-park-trnd/index.html

It seems all these giant pandas needed was a little privacy.

05/01/2020

Our hearts and thoughts are with people and animals affected by Covid-19. We at Zoo Design Inc remain healthy and continue working from our homes. We are lucky that we had been well set up for working remotely prior to the shut down, have several active projects that need our attention, and did not have to lay off anyone. Friends, do not hesitate to call on us when you need any design help - WE ARE OPEN.

07/10/2019

An interview published in magazine Tyzden in Slovakia after Zoo Bratislava received a prestigious exhibit design award for their habitat and care facility for wolves. We translated the original Slovak text to English. Enjoy. http://www.zoodesign.co/in-the-news.html

04/28/2019

Zoo Bratislava won an award for The Best Exhibit of the Year (2018) for their new wolf exhibit. The price is awarded by The Union of Czech and Slovak Zoos and, considering that Zoo Bratislava was competing for this award with esteemed Zoos such as the Prague Zoo or Zoo Zlin, it is significant. We are grateful for the opportunity to prepare the design for the zoo wolves and to work with professionals of Zoo Bratislava who are truly a well rounded and enlightened team. An award is nice and even better is the knowledge that the five wolves in the zoo's care took on the life in their habitat with verve and visibly thrive. An English translation of the article, as well a linkt o the original is here http://www.zoodesign.co/in-the-news.html

03/15/2018

Dear friends, are you experiencing similar problem?
Due to good economy construction prices are soaring worldwide, see this infographic made by our friends in RSmeans. 26% increase in cost of lumber, 29% increase in cost of steel, 31% increase in cost of concrete in one year ... this makes zoo projects, working with fix budgets, really expensive to impossible build.

03/14/2018

Today we are working on a rendering of Cloud Forest for Tallinn Zoo, reviewing bids for Saola Conservation Centre in Vietnam, and creating illustrations explaining big terms of zoo conservation such as Integrated species conservation and Mega-population management of wildlife. Feeling proud and excited to be able to contribute our design skills to support survival of biodiversity on the Earth, wild (semi-wild :-) ) and beautiful.

03/05/2018

Tiger Valley day at Tallinn Zoo featuring Tiger Valley design and illustration by Zoo Design Inc. A great client and a beautiful and fun project with strong focus on animal welfare and conservation.