Giraffe & Rhino Lodges

Dearadh Zu have been appointed to lead the landscape design for the second phase of the Masterplan development at West Midland Safari Park. Our commission included concept design development and support with the planning application and subsequent tender package for the scheme. This phase of development will see an area of approx 2.8 ha developed to include 8 themed African lodges and associated new animal habitats.

Client
West Midlands Safari Park

Location
Kidderminster, UK

Year
2021 - 2022

Dearadh Zu’s Role

Concept Design supporting the zoo’s in house Creative designer
Stakeholder Engagement & Workshops
Landscape & Exhibit Design
Soft Landscape design
3D model / CGI Visualisations
Planning Application Support
Detailed Design
Production of Landscape tender packages
On-site support

PROJECT FEATURES

West Midlands Safari Park second phase of their 10 year Masterplan, introduced eight new luxury African themed lodges, set within a rolling grassland landscape. The new lodges provide an immersive guest experience with views overlooking new habitats for Giraffe, Rhino and a range of Ungulate species. The animal habitats have been designed to resemble a natural Kopje landscape with use of mounding and boulders forming containment.

The bespoke timber frame lodge style promotes Passive Haus standards of design. Sustainability was a key considerations in the design process; and as such energy efficient building designs and grey water recycling were designed into the proposals. Day visitors will now be able to walk through the safari experience and come up close and personal to these species; a first in the parks history. The new foot safari route will lead up to a central ‘Boma style’ viewing area, before leading visitors onto the phase 01 Elephant and Cheetah developments.

In addition to development of lodges, the scheme will include new state of the art Giraffe and Rhino housing and off show facilities. Which have been designed with the parks animal curators’ input to ensure management is a key consideration. The Landscape design includes thoughtful selection of plants and rustic materials to evoke the spirit of the African bush and grassland landscapes. In addition the landscape design seeks to enhance and promote local Biodiversity on site, with the creation of new native woodlands and meadows to support native habitats and wildlife.

Images credit to West Midland Safari Park