Strasbourg Zoo Educational Farm and Visitor Center / FREAKS Architecture
Strasbourg Zoo Educational Farm and Visitor Center / FREAKS Architecture
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Text description provided by the architects. The educational farm is a reconstructed old traditional country farmhouse in the Orangerie national heritage park in Strasbourg, north-west France. It suffered for a long time without any renovation and no longer respected the rules of animal welfare.
It now hosts many farm animals: chickens, ducks, geese, pheasants, rabbits, pigs, guinea pigs, hamsters, goats, sheep, ponies, donkeys… and is mainly dedicated to kids.
A new visitor center / multi-purpose space has been incorporated into the existing wooden barn. It contrasts radically with its metal cladding and glass facade. A cantilevered volume creates a new space sheltered from the rain to welcome visitors.
The central stable has been completely renovated and repainted according to the rules of the national heritage. It extends outwards with modular fences. The chimney supports a large stork’s nest, typical of the region.
To complete the project, a new large aviary has been added at the edge of the site, acting as a landmark in the landscape of the park. It takes the entire width and reaches 6 meters high. A chicken coop with a large bay window (lined with blinds) has been integrated into its volume.