New Gorilla Pavilion in Prague Zoo - Competition Results

The subject of the competition was the preparation of a proposal for a new gorilla pavilion at Zoo Prague, including enclosures, visitor pathways (including an underpass connecting to Pod Hrachovkou), and a new entrance to Zoo Prague in the location designated by the organizer.

Organizer: Zoo Prague
Competition Secretary: Zoo Prague – registry office
Contact Person: Zuzana Smoláková 

Jury: regular jury members - independent: Ing. arch. Václav Škarda, Ing. et. Ing. Tomáš Jiránek, Akad. arch. Marek Houska

regular jury members - dependent: Mgr. Jaroslav Šimek, Ph.D., Jiří Kotek

jury substitutes - independent: Ing. arch. Pavel Šemora, Ing. arch. Jan Hořejší

invited experts: RNDr. Pavel Brandl, Ph.D., Mg.Cs. Vít Lukáš, DiS. 

Date of the competition: June 26 - September 19, 2014
Date of results publication: January 5, 2015
Number of submitted proposals: 16
Total prizes and awards: 500,000 CZK

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2nd Prize (300,000 CZK) ABM Architekti s. r. o. / Ing. arch. Petr Bouřil, Ing. arch. Magdalena Nováková, Ing. arch. Filip Fišer, Ing. arch. Marek Dohelský
Evaluation of the competition proposal in the 1st round: Suitable urban solution for the volume and orientation of the building both to the terrain and to the street space. Rational arrangement of breeding areas, organic division of spaces in general. The proposal for an outdoor amphitheater was also rated positively. Simplicity of concept favors lower economic demands.
Evaluation of the competition proposal in the 2nd round: The competition proposal confirmed its qualities stated in the 1st round of the competition. The jury appreciates the rational arrangement of breeding and visitor areas and interior solutions in general. From an urban perspective, the proposal would benefit from a larger setback of the building from the street Pod Hrachovkou and freeing the entrance and connecting ramps. The entrance to the pavilion feels cramped with an inadequately chosen form of a small opening, which evokes entry into a service background. The street facade with the adjoining wall of the amphitheater was unnecessarily increased by the height of the railing and creates a spatial barrier. The proposal appears economically viable. The jury rated competition proposal No. 11 as the best of the submitted proposals, but even this proposal contains partial shortcomings.

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3rd Prize (150,000 CZK) Mjölk s. r. o. / Ing. arch. Jan Vondrák, Ing. arch. Daniel Baudis, Ing. arch. Daniel Rohan, Ing. arch. Lucia Horkavá, Arch. Serena Scalia, Arch. Alberto Giancani, Arch. Esteban Carbajo Goméz

Evaluation of the competition proposal in the 1st round: Honest and truthful approach to the given house in the landscape. The simple and solid volume with a sloped roof is relatively sensitively embedded in the terrain. The creation of a forecourt in front of the house towards the street is an appropriate solution, but it is not well-defined. The economic part of the solution seems realistic.
Evaluation of the competition proposal in the 2nd round: Overall, the competition proposal confirmed the qualities stated in the first round through its refinement. The jury appreciates the suitable solution for the entrance areas to the premises, including the footbridge and street space. The public space in a wedge shape is appropriately placed, reflecting the terrain flow, creating a suitable entry into the area, and integrating Sklenářka and the new gorilla pavilion. On the other hand, the building is set back further from the street. Many comments on operating and breeding solutions persist even after refining the proposal in the 2nd round of the competition. The placement of the access ramp on the bridge by the giraffe pavilion is inappropriate, as the ramp conflicts with the holding enclosures for ungulates. The proposal appears very positive from a landscape-urban perspective and is also economically viable.

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Prize (50,000 CZK) Bogle Architects s. r. o. / MgA. Viktorie Součková
Evaluation of the competition proposal in the 1st round: The overall solution is convincing and balanced. Integration into the landscape and terrain is relatively sensitive and unobtrusive, thus not confronting the surroundings. The setback of the building from the street and the composed greenery between the street and the building is also considered positive. The layout of internal breeding and operational spaces is addressed appropriately. The inclusion of an outdoor viewpoint on the main enclosure is rated positively. There is a concern that the load-bearing structure of the roof in combination with the green surface will be more expensive compared to other structural solutions.
Evaluation of the competition proposal in the 2nd round: The jury-required verification of the roof structure significantly increased the overall height of the building, which has a negative impact on the building's integration into the landscape framework and weakens the overall perception of the proposal. The increased roof also led to a negative enlargement of the facade areas and the elevation of the visitor space, while the formal extension of the pergola supports the overall massiveness of the building. All these changes also bring increased investment and operational costs. The connecting pathway between the gorilla and giraffe pavilions improperly intrudes into the ungulate enclosure. The jury appreciates the craftsmanship and artistic processing of the competition proposal, whose overall elaboration is at a high professional level.

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