Gorilla Forest Renovation

Date & Location

May 2022 - Oct 2023
Taipei City, Taiwan

Construction by curation.

Taipei Zoo recently initiated a new gorilla breeding program with international collaboration. As a result, new little gorilla boys have been born, which means the zoo needs to prepare new places for them as they grow into adults.

For me, a storyteller, this project was not just about renovating facilities; it was also an opportunity to showcase the wondrous stories of these fantastic creatures.

Project Type
Zoo Design

Client
Taipei Zoo

Collaborate with
Hsiao Xin Xin Architect Studio

My Participation
Curation and visitors’ experience development.

Keywords
Zoo Design, Master Plan, Gorilla, Africa, Rainforest, Curation

The process of collaborating with the architect team.

Design Process 1

The extension of the gorilla enclosure can potentially become the centerpiece of the master plan for the "African Animal Area." The curator of this area has been considering a master plan for years but has been stuck at a bottleneck for some time. With the development of these gorilla habitats, this area could be developed into an African rainforest theme, contrasting with the savannah theme of Africa. This could push the entire master plan forward with a storyline that starts in the middle.

Design Process 2

The description is based on the interpretation of ZSL London Zoo, and this information gave me the idea to deconstruct their habitat into different parts and arrange them into various enclosures. This would make every enclosure unique and help prevent all enclosures from looking the same, and the rotation exhibit allows the animals to discover different environments daily.

“Western lowland gorillas live in swampy forest habitats with thick vegetation, often close to *rivers***.”

Design Process 3

Forms not only follow functions but also stories. The differences in enclosures lead to different enrichments inside to comprehensively support the storytelling of gorillas, which leads guests to use different ways to build connections with these animals.