Basic Site Details Name: | Scottish National Zoological Park | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland was founded in 1909 by Thomas Gillespie, an Edinburgh lawyer. Within four years the Society has sufficient support and funding to purchase an 85 acre site to the west of Edinburgh, for £17,000, with assistance from Edinburgh City Council. Gillespie took for his model the so-called 'open zoo' at Hamburg, designed by Carl Hagenbeck. Instead of bars and cages, Edinburgh Zoo was designed from the outset to have large, open enclosures, using ditches and moats to separate the animals from the visitors.
By April 1913 Patrick Geddes, and his son-in-law Frank Mears had prepared a Report and preliminary plans for laying out the zoological gardens, and work on construction of the pools for polar bears and seals, aviaries, and enclosures for wolves, monkeys bars and lions was commenced immediately. Edinburgh Zoo was opened to the public on 22 July 1913, and was incorporated by Royal Charter later that year. | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | Edinburgh Zoo | Yes | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Zoo | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | Corstorphine Road | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1913 | | Opened | |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | (Sir) Frank Charles Mears | | | 1913 | | Layout with Patrick Geddes | | Patrick Geddes | | | 1913 | | Lay out - with Frank Mears |
Related Buildings, Structures and DesignsChild StructuresThis structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details): | | Building Name | Notes | | Picnic Shelter | Largely built by youth trainees from Telford College.
Pavers infront of the shelter incorporate a pattern based on the DNA spiral, devised by the landscape architect (unknown?). | | Scottish National Zoological Park Aquarium | | | Scottish National Zoological Park buildings, Bandstand | | | Scottish National Zoological Park buildings, Corstorphine Hill House | | | Scottish National Zoological Park buildings, pair of toilets flanking west lodge | | | Scottish National Zoological Park, Bookshop | | | Scottish National Zoological Park, Children's Farm | | | Scottish National Zoological Park, Gateway (including lodge) | | | Scottish National Zoological Park, Marketing Suite | 35sqm suite with curved zinc roof. £42,600 budget | | Scottish National Zoological Park, Marmoset House | £300,000 budget; a self build project with a training scheme built into the construction programme. | | Scottish National Zoological Park, Monkey House | Estimated cost £2,600 | | Scottish National Zoological Park, north section | | | Scottish National Zoological Park, Tropical Bird and Reptile House | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M | 1984 | Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) | | Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd | pp526-7 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Building News | 11 April 1913 | | | p510 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | Frank Charles Mears: F no2513 (box 7) |
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