Swiss zoo architecture

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In autumn 2016, visitors to Basel Zoo will be able to watch the elephants foraging, bathing and grooming in the savannah landscape of the new outdoor enclosure. (Zoo Basel) zVg

The large rocks in Basel Zoo elephant house will help divide the enclosure into zones and also serve as scratching posts. (Zoo Basel) zVg

Scheduled to open in 2021, the Basel Zoo Oceanarium's use of underground space helps it reduce the footprint of the building. (Boltshauser Architekten) zVg

A large spiralling ramp runs through all the levels of the Basel Oceanarium allowing up to 1,000 visitors to explore the building at any one time. (Nightnurse Images/Boltshauser Architekten) zVg

The Basel Oceanarium is divided into different aquatic worlds to represent the diversity of natural environments found around the globe. (Nightnurse Images/Boltshauser Architekten) zVg

The low profile and use of rendered earth for the façade helps the Basel Oceanarium blend into the surrounding environment. (Philipp Schaerer/Boltshauser Architekten) zVg

The façade of the Basel Oceanarium was designed to resemble a sea cliff. (Boltshauser Architekten) zVg

The 6,800 square metre free-standing wooden roof of the Zurich Zoo elephant house is the only one of its kind. (Markus Schietsch Architekten) zVg

Food stations are scattered throughout the Zurich Zoo elephant enclosure encouraging the elephants to forage like their wild counterparts. (Keystone) zVg

The 271 irregular shaped opening in the wooden shell roof of the Zurich Zoo elephant house help create a dappled light effect found under a tree canopy. (Markus Schietsch Architekten) zVg

Reference photos of the Gir forest in India were used to recreate the landscape of the Zurich Zoo Asiatic lion enclosure. (Vetsch Partner) zVg

The exterior of the Zurich Zoo lion enclosure is inspired by the traditional mud huts built by communities living in the vicinity of Gir forest in western India. (Vetsch Partner) zVg

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Zoo architects have to juggle many criteria simultaneously: The design must be wildlife-friendly and yet also keep the visitor experience in mind, it must be bold enough to impress the jury but conservative enough to avoid overshadowing the animals, and it should be inspired by the natural world but overcome space restrictions of an urban environment.