The Elephant and Rhinoceros House

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.