Chester Zoo debuts Monsoon Forest in phase two of £40m Islands expansion
Chester Zoo has debuted phase two of its £40m (US$62.2m, €56.4m) Islands project, which is centred around the UK’s largest indoor zoo exhibit, Monsoon Forest.
Developed to put the spotlight on a number of endangered species from Southeast Asia, the new exhibit features its own tropical weather system and a number of tropical plant species. In addition to the Sulawesi crested macaque, rhinoceros hornbill, Asian forest tortoise and the tentacled snake, Monsoon Forest is home to two Sunda gharial crocodiles which have had a special enclosure developed inside the exhibition with an underwater viewing area. Also included are raised walkways and free flight areas for the enclosure’s birds.
Still to come in the ongoing Islands development by Dan Pearlman are the openings of the Sumatran tiger exhibit sitting on the edge of the lazy river ride, the orangutan enclosure and a bird house featuring the incredibly rare Bali Starling.
Following a successful launch last month, Islands is expected to increase footfall at the zoo by around 150,000, bringing numbers up to 1.5 million visitors annually. The boat ride has a capacity of up to 6,000 visitors a day, with 18,000 visiting the zoo at peak times.
Islands is just the start for Chester Zoo, with the attraction’s managing director, Jamie Christon, exclusively telling AM2 last month that the zoo is currently laying out an ambitious masterplan as it strives to become a world leader in the sector.
For more from Dan Pearlman Architect’s Kieran Stanley on how Chester Zoo balanced the needs of the animals with those of the visitor, check out the latest issue of Attractions Management, available online here.
Exclusive: Chester Zoo reveals ambitious masterplan as it strives to become world's best
Chester Zoo's £40m development by Dan Pearlman recreates Indonesian island experience
Blow for Chester Zoo as 'Our Zoo' axed by the BBC
'Our Zoo' TV show worth £30m in PR to Chester Zoo, says MD
Chester Zoo launches crowd sourcing project for heritage collection
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
From climate change to resource scarcity, Exploration Architecture uses biomimicry to address some of the world’s major challenges. Its founder tells us how