bjarke ingels group frames an indoor-outdoor garden for a panda couple in copenhagen zoo

news by the design story

bjarke ingels group (big) unveils a comfortable home for the world’s rarest mammal, a giant panda couple named mao sun and xing er in copenhagen zoo. the design connects a harmonious indoor-outdoor garden, featuring a mini bamboo forest, that portraying the panda’s natural habitat for a peaceful living environment and a room for the visitor to greet and view the mammal from the outdoor or behind the glazing wall.

the panda couple has arrived from chengdu, china, to settled in the 2459sqm-one-of-the oldest zoos in europe. while big’s team designed the space especially for them to mate. as they have to be able to roam freely, architects have to tackle the challenge of taking care of the vulnerable species. hence, the house has to be formed by solitary nature and make its own coherent connection with immediate surroundings, including the central square, the nordic area, the monkey house, and the elephant house.

the yin-and-yang circular design

taking the form of a circular home, the panda house was designed into two separate areas which capture a yin and yang symbol. it is forming the most naturalistic possible for mao sun and xing er to live, while at the same time portraying…