Pandas are on the agenda for design firm Dan Pearlman, with the Berlin-based practice creating the new panda enclosure for Berlin Zoo, while also debuting a new indoor and outdoor environment for pandas at Everland Resort in Yongin, South Korea.
A pair of giant pandas, which can generate millions in revenue every year as visitors travel far and wide to get a glimpse of the endangered species, made their South Korean debut on 21 April to coincide with the fortieth anniversary of Everland Zoo.
The 7,000sq m (75,000sq ft) Panda World is centred around a world-class enclosure, also featuring an exhibition space, classrooms, retail, a café and caretaker areas.
“The landscape of Sichuan Province was our main theme in designing the exhibition," said Kieran Stanley, CEO of Dan Pearlman. "We wanted visitors to feel like they’re transported to the habitat of the giant pandas and immersed in their lush natural surroundings.”
The main building has been clad with artificial rock, to embed Panda World into the landscape. The design emulates mountain ranges, rivers and dense forests. Internally, bamboo, ginko and coniferous trees, rock formations, small streams and waterfalls create a feeling of authenticity at Panda World.
Dan Pearlman’s design starts at Panda Plaza, moving through to a green, water-rich landscape modelled after China’s Sichuan Province, home of the wild panda. After passing a koi pond and otter enclosure, the exhibition dedicated to all aspects of panda life will educate visitors about species conservation.
From the exhibition, Dan Pearlman have designed Twilight Experience – an area offering visitors a glimpse into the panda’s nocturnal habitat – the only one of its kind in the world.
The main attraction – the house of pandas – is set out in a bamboo grove, which carries from indoor to outdoor without any perceptible breaks in continuity. The area also features red pandas and golden monkeys.
Following the South Korea project, Dan Pearlman are now drawing on their knowledge of how giant pandas conduct themselves with the planning another panda enclosure, this time at Berlin’s Zoological Garden, which will open to the public in 2017 when a young panda couple come from China to Germany.
