The Elephant and Rhinoceros House
Subscribe now to instantly view this image
Subscribe to the Architects’ Journal (AJ) for instant access to the AJ Buildings Library, an online database of nearly 2,000 exemplar buildings in photographs, plans, elevations and details.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
South east corner of the Elephant House, from paddock
Galwey Arphot Download Original
Grade II listed home for Elephants and Rhinos at London Zoo. The plan groups the animals in paired pens around a central watering place
The 'house' occupies an island site near the southern boundary of the garden and was the first major building in the main area of the gardens to be completed in accordance with the redevelopment plan of 1956.
The building housed four elephants and four rhinoceroses in paired pens, each with access to sickbay pens and to moated external paddocks.
The pens are arranged round a central hall for the public, who circulate through the building at a slightly lover level on an S-shaped route. On the main level there is a washing pool for the animals in view of the public.
The building stands among existing trees on a small mound formed from the excavated soil. The animals, when in their paddocks, are seen against the curved concrete walls, which have a vertically ribbed texture.
Construction is reinforced concrete with a brick inner skin protecting polystyrene insulation. The roof structure over the public area is of laminated timber beams set in metal shoes. Tall green lanterns give the impression from above of elephants gathering around a water hole.
Data
- Completed: 1966
- Sector: Sports and leisure
- Address: Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Casson, Conder and Partners
- Project architects: Hugh Casson, Montague Turland, Neville Conder
- Client: London Zoo
- Structural engineer: Jenkins and Potter
- Services engineer: G. H. Buckle
- Quantity surveyor: A. S. Wilson & Partners
- Main contractor: John Mowlem
Suppliers
- Copper roofing: The Ruberoid Company
- Precast concrete stonework: Atlas Stone Co
- Bricks: Baggeridge Brick
- Patent glazing: Henry Hope & Sons Ltd