Dudley Zoo Tecton exhibits » Dudley Zoo

Dudley Zoo Tecton exhibits
06-09-2008

Was watching a TV program on modernist architecture the other day, and pictures of Dudley Zoo came on. A bit of searching found these articles on the net:

Risky Buildings
The Twentieth Century Society

While the exhibits look totally unsuitable, I'm interested to know which ones still hold animais, and how they look today. I'm particually interested to know what the "aviary" is like. From pictures I'd believe it as a reptile house or aquarium, but don't see how it could be an aviary.

Django

07-09-2008

It was the bird house. I don't remember much about it but I think there were aviaries all around the sides and a centre on.

It is not in use, neither is the old entrance.

The restaurant is still used and the bear enclosure has guanaco I think.

07-09-2008

The old Polar Bear enclosure and adjacent big cat pits are also Tecton designed. I don't know what is in them now but they are supposed(?) to be rehousing the Orangutans & Chimpanzees in these.

07-09-2008

Don't know if it's still true, but I'm sure one of the old enclosures, probably polar bear, went on to hold fishing cats.

07-09-2008

I have a number of photos of these buidlings in my gallery from a visit in late 2006.

Tecton Tiger Enclosure has always (and still holds tigers).

Tecton Polar Bear Enclosure if off-exhibit area for Asiatic Black Bear.

Tecton Lion Enclosure now main area for Asiatic Black Bear.

Tecton Bear Ravine now holds Guanaco & Rhea but the viewing platform is closed (unsafe).

Tropical Bird House is unused.

Tecton Elephant House now holds lemurs.

There have been numerous plans for re-development of these areas over the years and the most recent (like all before now looking doubtful) involved putting Orangs & Chimps in Tecton Tiger/ Polar Bear/ Lion complex and Lions into the 'Bear Ravine' with viewing windows around legs of bird house. The house iteself would then form a restaurant overlooking the lions.

As with London Zoo (and to a much lesser extent Whipsnade), the listed status prevents their demolition or much change to the structures and the costs of maintenance and rennovation are therefore high. Developments must be sympathetic to, and retain the architectural features of, the original constructions.

11-09-2008

Thanks for that information everybody.

Looking at the pictures I'm reminded of Gerald Durrell's comment that the most dangerous animal in a zoo is an architect. On the other hand there is no doubt they are interesting architecturally. It is also interesting to contrast Chester and Dudley zoos, located not too far from each other, both starting in the depression era, one with a "silver spoon" in it's mouth, the other a product of struggle town, and where they are today.

My visit to Dudley 2/5/09
04-05-2009

Hi all,

A long time I know but I will hopefully be posting a few more reports shortly.
I visited Dudley yesterday with my stepdaughter for her birthday. This is the first time I have ever visited. The closest I ever got previously was watching the BBC TV series One By One which was filmed here in the early 1980's.
The former aviary is now the living quarters for the asiatic lions. I am nonplussed as to how it was originally an aviary but never mind.
The polar bear pit is now not used at all. There are gates for keepers and badly maintained hoardings. I climbed up to look in and although there was evidence that it had been used for asiatic bears but no longer (huge chunks of concrete coming off walls).
The elevated viewing platform over the former bear pits is in a shocking state. One of the kiosks (the one closest to the main gate) is now used for a discovery centre.
Finally, the elephant house is having some work done to it and at present is housing lemurs and jumping rats. Quite a shame for a huge impressive building.
I can't help but feel sad that these monuments are slowly crumbling away and being replaced by containers.
On a good note, the chairlift is going to be renovated and reopened.

Paul

04-05-2009

Maybe they're just waiting for them to collapse? It would probably make their lives a lot easier.

Corrections
04-05-2009

Sorry about this, I'm a regular at Dudley. ^.^

The tecton buildings include: The zoo main entrance, the three enclosures -current bear and tiger and the old polar bear enclosure, Monkey Tail/chimp house,the little kiosks scattered across the zoo, not sure about if the pools in the sealion/penguin are tecton, (but same style), the old bear pit, the dinosaur dig above the lions!

plus to correct you Paul Scott, the den was custom built which is not the old tecton building above it, simple there is no doors in that building which could hold the lions and its listed, the den is in the bottom right-hand corner it has 4 sections, which currently holds Gir and Hitara, and hopefully a new younger female.

04-05-2009

You`ve missed off the paddock enclosure that you pass on the left as you are going down to the chimps which is also part of the Tecton legacy at Dudley.

04-05-2009

Duh. Silly me. One question is the old groggy building near the old bear ravine (covered in ivy) is that tecton?

04-05-2009

If its the one i`m thinking of no its the old insect house.

04-05-2009

kk thanks.

Whoops!!!
05-05-2009

Sorry for that. When I went there was a lot of renovation/building work going on next to the lion enclosure at the top close to the lemur walkthrough so I couldn't see the den properly and assumed they were using the old aviary. My mistake!
Did they used to use the Monkey Tails building as the tropical house?
I don't suppose you have any old photos of the zoo with the exhibits in all their glory?

Paul

06-05-2009

Sadly, not I started going just as they started work.