Chester Zoo is a world-leading conservation and education charity that’s committed to creating a future where nature can survive and thrive. The zoo’s site in Chester, home to more than 37,000 animals, is where its species-saving work is made possible, thanks in no small part to the millions of visitors it welcomes every year.
The zoo lives and breathes conservation – from its animal and plant care to its scientific breakthroughs, to its vital role in inspiring and educating people about the natural world and the impact humans have on it.
Buttress was appointed to work on two zoo areas, developing new offers for visitors and guests. Our work at Chester Zoo exemplifies our commitment to a meaningful design approach. The design connects people with nature and culture, prioritising the integration of new developments into the pre-existing zoo environment.
Heart of Africa
Six years in the planning, the Heart of Africa area is the zoo’s biggest and most ambitious development of all time - an immersive experience that replicates the wilds of Africa and is a fitting showcase for the zoo’s vital conservation work, protecting habitats and species across the continent.
Our work on the Heart of Africa included the design of a new education centre, delivering a unique space that blends learning, interaction and experience. The education centre provides a place to learn with a front-row seat to an array of iconic species, including giraffes, zebras, antelope and ostrich, living side-by-side. It will provide flexible and immersive teaching spaces for audiences ranging from school-age children to industry professionals.
Visitors will be immersed in the zoo environment while enjoying integrated seating, thatched canopies and views of the savannah-inspired environment. The space is versatile enough to serve as a meeting space, an exhibition venue or an additional wedding location. To achieve maximum impact for the zoo's charitable conservation and education mission, designing the resources needed for education was essential. This includes two classrooms overlooking the animal enclosure and a shared display space.
Design
When designing the ‘Heart of Africa’ buildings, our main inspiration was the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. This inspiration is woven in through the structure of the buildings and material palette. We reinforced the atmosphere of the ‘traditional’ village setting by featuring simple and authentic materials and Ugandan patterns in building elevations.
Each lodge will have a green roof, layered with timber panels and planted with seeds. There is native planting around the lodges and the edge of the water to encourage biodiversity and emulate the Savannah environment.
The welcome building achieves BREEAM (very good) certification. BREEAM is a sustainability assessment for the built environment. The framework is used to assess whole life performance.
Overnight stays at Chester Zoo
Alongside the Heart of Africa work, we worked on the zoo's unique overnight stay project, comprising of 51 savannah-inspired luxury lodges. This unique development will allow guests to stay overnight at Chester Zoo for the very first time.
Aligned with the zoo’s mission to prevent extinction by creating a future where nature can survive and thrive, The Reserve at Chester Zoo provides premium stays and extraordinary animal experiences that protect the wild world by directly funding wildlife regeneration.
The development includes a welcome building featuring a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the central lake and a first-floor bar offering panoramic views of the giraffe habitat. The welcome centre serves as the first point of contact for all overnight guests, setting the tone for their immersive journey.
Martin Kirkpatrick, Buttress director, said:
"By integrating sustainable practices and focusing on conservation, we are connecting guests with nature and wildlife like never before. Our designs not only enhance the zoo’s offering but highlight the importance of the natural world, and we look forward to working with the Chester Zoo team to deliver the plans.”
Katharine Mainprize, Director of Marketing at Chester Zoo said:
“Together with Buttress, we’re looking forward to this new journey of architecture as we launch The Reserve. Through this partnership, we aim to enrich each guest’s journey with considered, personal touches, connecting them to our unique wildlife conservation stories, whilst they make their own.”
Andy Balmer
Andy is an Associate Architect with fifteen years of experience working across a wide range of sectors, including commercial office, residential and hotels.
Martin Kirkpatrick
Martin is an experienced architect who has successfully delivered projects across a broad range of sectors, most recently specialising in hotels, multi-residential, mixed-use, and masterplanning work.