AILA Victoria Awards 2008
V I C T O R I A N    G R O U P
A  U  S  T  R  A  L  I  A  N     I  N  S  T  I  T  U  T  E    O  F    L  A  N  D  S  C  A  P E    A  R  C  H  I  T  E  C  T  S


 

  2003 AILA Victoria & Tasmania
 Awards in Landscape Architecture

Flemings Nurseries
Major Partner
                      
design awards
Merit Award - Public Open Space and Recreational Facilities


TRAIL OF THE ELEPHANTS, MELBOURNE ZOO
PARKVILLE, VICTORIA

Landscape Architect:
 Green and Dale Associates
 

Client:
Zoological Parks and Garden Board

  
Jury Comments

 The Trail of the Elephants captures the imagination of visitors to the Melbourne Zoo, Parkville, engaging them in a sense of theatre, discovery and wonder, while delivering a serious message about the survival of the ‘endangered’ Asian elephant in its native habitat, and the conservation role of the contemporary zoo.

This project achieves a comfortable and stimulating new environment for the two resident Asian elephants, while allowing for an empathy with the animals through an understanding of shared culture. It also demonstrates the role of the landscape architect in the ‘big picture’ of sustainability, in which conservation and development are often in competition.

More than two hectares of land were redeveloped with walking trails in a matrix of ‘tropical rainforest’, consisting of a diverse palette of planting material. The central theme - the relationship of man and the Asian elephant - is reinforced in the interpretation of an ‘Asian’ village, with kitchen garden, village pond, hawkers’ stalls and artefacts. The question of ‘which’ Asian culture is represented becomes subservient to the larger issue of the relationship of man and elephant, culture and nature, in a sustainable partnership.

The design represents a consistent and complete expression of this concept.

Image Gallery
click to view full image
Entry - Visitor introduction to the ‘Trail of the Elephants’. Entry via a winding track through ‘Bamboo Forest’.     Village Cultivated clearing - Emerging from a ‘Bamboo Forest’ the visitor discovers a clearing in the forest, where the villagers are cultivating crops.’ The story of elephant habitat and human settlement and the conflicts, are interpreted.     Community Hall - In the community hall the complexity of co-existence between people and elephants is explained. A contemporary community works to find solutions to the conflicts caused by habitat destruction, human expansion and the deterioration of traditional human/ elephant relationships.      Hall Interior - The Hall acts as a meeting place for the ‘villagers’, A rich tapestry of artefacts, educational multimedia and theatre provide visitors with a reminder of village life and contact with wildlife.     Elephant Pool - Visitor view from the Hall of Bon Su and Mek Kapah swimming in the ‘ruin water reservoir’.     Village Paddock - A view of the forest planting surrounding the elephant ‘village’ paddock. An existing eucalypt is integrated into the planting.
 Theatre Ruins - From a terrace ‘remnant’, a school group look’s out onto the ‘flooded ruin’ pool. Here visitors experience a contemporary Asian community surrounded by ancient reminders of cultural relationships of people and elephants.     ‘Bon Su Sleeps’ - Bon Su finds a suitable ‘bed’ for day-time sleeping in the ‘Village Paddock’. Exhibit paddock ‘clearings’ combine ‘active’ enrichment with ‘passive’ retreat areas.     Village - walking through the ‘village’ with its ‘hawker stalls’ food and gift stores, the visitor approaches a shelter beside the elephant barn. Here the visitor learns how elephants are cared for. The village is the major gathering space, where Asian foods and products are enjoyed.     Village - walking through the ‘village’ with its ‘hawker stalls’ food and gift stores, the visitor approaches a shelter beside the elephant barn. Here the visitor learns how elephants are cared for. The village is the major gathering space, where Asian foods and products are enjoyed.     Lowland swamp forest - the complexity of lowland Asian Rainforest is replicated. Species such as Crinum and Carex are used to ‘mimic’ endemic tropical species to create realistic landscape character and habitat types.     12. Mek Kapah - Close up encounters. The message, that the habitat of elephants is the habitat of many other animals' as well as human beings. The project delivers this message clearly, that: 'the future of Elephants is in our hands'
                                  

Home • 2003 Awards Launch • Awards 2003 Design • Awards 2003 Planning • Awards 2003 Environment • Awards 2003 Graduate & Student