For most architects, the aim of their talents and the end purpose of their work is to cater the needs and wants of the human world. Their skills are basically honed for the structures and designs that are needed for the comfort and convenience of the human species. However, not all architects are thinking that way, for there are some few individuals who think for the betterment of other species in this planet. And one of the known architects who think in such manner is Markus Schietsch Architekten.
One of his most noteworthy project is the new elephant house at the Zurich Zoo, Switzerland with a contract price of $56.7 million. According to him the competition for winning the said project was quite difficult, he and his firm had to compete against 65 entries from other countries including Austria, Germany and United States. But in the end, his "6,800 square metre free-standing wooden roof - designed to give the impression of being under a giant tree" captivated the jury, said swissinfo.
This project of Markus is not just a mere project for aesthetics, it will serve as reminder for visitors to understand and appreciate the role of zoos today. As to his own words via swissinfo, Markus stated that, "you can still be critical about zoos but they are very important to generate an awareness about conservation problems outside Europe." (Click for Photo)
And in order to have a very similar environment with the animal's natural habitat, Markus and his team took their inspiration from various unique configurations encountered in the natural world, thus generating a distinct and clear construction of nature. His project is not just an ordinary one, for it will evoke within the visitors' consciousness a sense of architecture while preserving the authenticity of nature within the atmosphere of the zoo house. To capsulate this soon to be architectural success, the specialized elephant house in Switzerland aims to let both visitors and inhabitant experience nature at its finest.