Plans for a second zoo in Sydney, slated for 2017, will be led by best-practice sustainability objectives, according to the project’s lead architects.

The proposal in the Western Sydney Parklands at Bungarribee, covers 165,000sq m (40.7 acres) and could house up to 500 animals. John Burgess, managing director of Sydney Zoo and founder of Sydney Aquarium, announced plans for the attraction in September, which is expected to draw around 745,000 visitors to the zoo each year.

The design has been conceived by Misho + Associates (M+A) in conjunction with landscape architecture from Aspect Studios, masterplanning from JBA, and engineering consultancy from Lindsay Dynan and Evolve Engineering.

With energy conservation in mind, the architects have proposed buildings related to their neighbouring landscape in colour, material and scale. M+A’s plans also consider embodied energy and sustainability of all building materials and resources used. Main materials for buildings will be prefabricated concrete, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and recycled timber – all chosen on the basis of sustainability.

The zoo will also offer an Australian first: green roof habitats. The development will comprise as many as 200 exhibition areas, as well as open spaces, animal viewing areas and 24 eco-friendly buildings.

M+A says its “simple palette of materials will be detailed carefully to create an impression of quality and longevity”. The architect’s design has a lack of applied decoration to the buildings, with layers of light and shadow used over proposed structures instead.

Sustainability is a theme throughout the plans, with a local policy on material sourcing and use of photovoltaic energy for new buildings where possible. Split System Air Conditioners will only be used where essential and an advanced water management policy has been created for the development.

A Development Application has been lodged with NSW Planning & Environment and is currently open to public submission. According to Australia’s environment minister Mark Speakman, the zoo will boost Sydney’s economy by AU$45m (US$31.5m, €27.9m, £20.3m) annually with 120 full-time jobs created.

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