Te Puna at Auckland Zoo

This project is positioned in a unique lakeside setting in the centre of Auckland Zoo and forms part of the wider South East Asia Jungle Track development, which in turn is part of the wider Zoo Masterplan vision. Stevens Lawson Architects in association with Jack McKinney Architects worked in collaboration with Auckland Zoo Masterplan and Southeast Asia Jungle Track design lead; Seattle based Zoo design specialists, Studio Hansen Roberts to integrate the Te Puna Café into the wider landscape design. Inspired by the natural world and unique Zoo character, the plan is reminiscent of a coastline with bays and peninsulas, creating a variety of distinctive spaces to sit, eat and socialise. Fluid geometries create a series of connected spaces providing character and intimacy. The experience is an extension of the landscape, the sinuous glass-line invites natural light and connection to the wider environment. The expansive verandah shelters from the elements; an oasis of calm. Sculptural pods anchor the composition, the kitchen located centrally within the building, the sustaining heart. Priority for animal welfare informed a series of design responses to ensure visitor experience is in harmony with the Zoo’s conservation ethos. The venue performs as a café by day, and becomes a function venue by evening, seating 150 people inside and 100 on the deck. A fundamental design requirement was to acoustically isolate the building from the surroundings to minimise disturbance to nearby animals, however, simultaneously creating an inviting space for visitors that is well-connected back to the wider surroundings. The Café functions as a safe zone in the event of ‘Code Red’ emergency (if a dangerous animal has escaped) allowing people to take refuge in the building. The design and material selection in this project is informed by sustainability principles. Priority for animal welfare from the outset of the brief required the building to be acoustically isolated from the external environment. This limited the ability to incorporate passive ventilation, however, led to good implementation of passive solar principles by optimising site orientation, solar shading and material selections. These considerations maximised inherent opportunities for lower operational costs and enhanced user environments. The building orientation is optimized for solar gain during winter and the expansive canopy provides shading in the summer months. The clay brick is locally sourced and extremely durable requiring no maintenance. The glass façade at ground level enables safe access for future maintenance. Glulam timber mullions support the glazing system. Decking is composite eco-decking made from recycled polyethylene and wood-fibres. The warm roof system achieves high thermal performance and provides acoustic benefits. The large skylight above the Servery allows natural light to flood into space reducing reliance on artificial lighting. External light fittings are limited to emergency and way-finding to control light pollution impacting animal welfare. A frit on the glazed panels deters birds from colliding into the glass. Rainwater harvesting is incorporated into the design, two 30,000L storage tanks collect water for the toilets and irrigation for the wider Zoo landscape.