Iconic London Zoo aviary revamp out to bid
Plans to repurpose and transform the Grade II listed Snowdon Aviary at London Zoo have come out to tender.
The scheme, understood to cost around £7m, will see the iconic structure revamped to create a world-leading facility for Black and White Colobus monkeys and other species native to forests in western and eastern Africa. Modernising the structure, listed in 1998 as the first permanent tensioned building in the UK, will be the most ambitious project undertaken by the Zoo. Designed by Cedric Price with engineer Frank Newby and Lord Snowdon in 1962, it became Britain’s first walk-through aviary. The main structure will be retained and restored where needed with existing aluminium mesh replaced with stainless steel netting.
The Snowdon Aviary is currently on the Historic England Buildings at Risk Register given the poor condition of its structural frame. The project will also include the construction of three new geodesic timber structures – a new monkey house will be connected by means of two elevated lattice monkey highways made out of laminated bamboo and lined with stainless steel mesh.
Source: Construction Enquirer
