HSINCHU ZOO
新竹動物園
Hsinchu Zoo is the first zoo of Taiwan. It ties together the past one hundred years of history with the next hundred years of modern architecture.The interface between the city and the zoo illustrates the coexistent relationship between the two. There is a ninety-meters long and six-meters tall double-layered mesh wall, X1 between the plaza and the main entrance of the zoo. The structure functions as a boundary to separate the two entities, but the wire mesh provides certain transparency of the world beyond. X2 is the wood-post wall surrounding the circle plaza. The wall appeares to enclose visitors in an animal cage, raising the question whether the animals or the visitors are the objects being viewed?
新竹動物園為台灣最老的動物園，其豐富的歷史背景如同錨般的聯繫著動物園的初衷，如何保有歷史紋理，同時創造相呼應的現代性地景 ? 這是一座交融一百年前的建築與一百年後的現代建築之動物園。本案透過兩種性質不同的介面(X1、X2)去探討都市與動物園的介面。X1為一道將近百米的雙層金屬網牆，劃分都市與動物園的界線，牆面雖劃分兩者，參訪者卻透過金屬網的朦朧而隱約可見對方的世界；X2為圓形廣場周圍的木樁牆，像一個籠子般將人類圈養在其中並被動物所包圍，到底是我們來看動物，抑或我們才是被觀賞的一方。
The ninety meters long double-layered mesh structure, X1, functions as a blurring boundary which separates the two entities A and B. As the wall extends across the entrance into the zoo, it evolves into different structural variations when intersecting different natural conditions, programs and functions. These include: cantilever for signage XA, extension for entrance canopy XE, double-height for restaurant XG, and set-back by the trees XJ.
一道九十米長被雙層金屬網所包覆的輕鋼構空間桁架，形成一道模糊的介面，區隔出都市與動物園的邊界，透過這層介面也隱約暗示著牆後動物園的世界。輕鋼構橫跨入口區的各式空間，也衍伸出眾多結構型態的變形：懸臂的動物園招牌(XA)、動物園入口延伸的雨遮(XE)，餐廳的挑高 (XG)，甚至是遇到既有樹木退縮變窄(XJ)。這是一道順應機能與大自然而變形的有機牆面；是都市與動物園之介面(X1)。
Once visitors pass through the first interface, X1, they will reach the zoo from the crossing to arrive at the center plaza. The evenly spaced wooden poles are used to define the plaza and to separate the urban habitat and the natural landscape. The wooden poles appear as the walls that cage visitors. Through the wood-post walls, one hears the roars and yelps and occasionally gets a whiff of the odors from the animals. The concrete pavement changes to an orange hue, when one crosses through the wood-post wall. It is a subtle indication of exiting the domain of man and entering the realm of the animals.
都市的人們穿越第一層介面(X1)之後，經由空橋飛越動物園本身，並透過圓形的坡道緩緩於動物園的中心落地，而一根根的木樁劃分出人與動物的邊界。從空中往下看人類更像是被圈養起來的動物，透過木樁的虛虛實實與坡道的高低變化，造成視覺的變化，在圓形廣場內偶爾聽到動物的吼叫、聞到牠們的氣味，與間接感受到的外在環境。穿過木樁牆兩側的大門，開始要參觀動物園時，地面材料從透水混凝土轉換成橘紅色的大地色鋪面，暗示著即將進入動物的世界。
Hsinchu Zoo is the first zoo in Taiwan, hence its historical value is the anchor which ties the zoo to its origin; the new architecture is as though a compass pointing towards modern day values, such as care for nature and animal rights and the reinterpretation of the relationship between the city and its public spaces.
Location
Liberation of Animals
The liberation of the imprisoned animals was through the removal of their cages, and when faced with the dilemma of the caged bird exhibit, we chose to abandon this program completely. Inversely, through the creation of ecological wetlands in the zoo, we attracted the city birds to come and rest here.
Humbleness towards Nature
We adopted a humble attitude towards nature, which directly reflected upon the organic form of the new building. When a line came in contact with a tree, we chose to go around it, and when there was an unavoidable conflict, we opened a hole in the building; the form of the building adapted to its surrounding environment.
What we did
Freed the Animals
Expansion of Habitat
Natural Barriers
Preserve the Trees
Remember our Past
The Animals are the Residents
Location within the Hsinchu park, the zoo must also evolve to play the role of an urban park. In the center of the zoo, wooden posts enclose a circular plaza, and it is here the urban extends itself into the park. The plaza provides an urban corner for visitors to exchange the sounds of the bustling city for the distant roar of a lion, and small objects such as a coffee shop, a climbing cage, a sandbox, and the service center are located here to service the guests. Landscape barriers and peeping corners have replaced the once intimidating and sealed off retaining walls, blurring the line between the park and the zoo. We aim for passerby’s wandering around the park to stumble across the zoo, and accidentally discover a multitude of animals living within; the animals are the residents.
Plan
1. Entrance & Core Plaza
2. Restaurant
3. Circular Plaza
4. Grasslands
5. Ecological Pool
6. Fountain
7. Relics
8. Wetlands
9. Le Le park
10. Herbal Garden
11. Monkey Island
12. Pool
13. The Pits
14. Petting Zoo
Before & After
