First glimpse of new Dudley Zoo building
Eye-catching artist impressions of an iconic Dudley Zoo building which is being given a multi-million pound makeover have been unveiled today.
The Safari Shop and main entrance are being restored with the help of Heritage Lottery funding.
Chief executive Peter Suddock said: "The work is bang on schedule for Easter opening.
Artists impressions will be on display to show how this renowned world architecture will look when restored to its former glory."
Dedicated restoration workers are using methods and materials from almost eight decades ago as they restore the two iconic buildings.
Mr Suddock said today it had been a 'fascinating' experience using techniques from the 1930s to carry out renovation work on the entrance and Safari Shop.
The building will also offer a new entrance with direct access from the extended zoo car park and an integral Tecton Interpretation Centre.
The centre will explain Dudley Zoo's 12 Tecton buildings – the world's largest single collection – designed by Russian architect Berthold Lubetkin and constructed between 1935 and 1937 using a pioneering system of reinforced concrete.
Heritage Lottery funding has enabled repair work to be carried out for the first time on four of the structures – the Safari Shop, the eye-catching entrance, bear ravine and kiosk one, affording them a new lease of life as part of the multi-million pound makeover.
Mr Suddock added: "All concrete repair work has been completed employing the exact formula used when they were built and we've also identified original paint colours. It's been a fascinating journey taking a unique set of buildings apart; so much previously-unseen architecture has been revealed and it's also offered an insight into past construction methods.
"The structural engineering for the time was very intelligent. For example, the entrance has 39 pins supporting the roof's five iconic concrete 'waves' that form an interlocking serpentine.
We now understand how that was constructed whereas prior knowledge was very limited.
"It's not all retrospective, we've re-insulated the shop's roof, added underfloor heating and new windows and doors and opened up the space so we'll be able to offer a greater retail experience for visitors."
Costs for the entrance and shop are £417,000, with £200,000 funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, and the remaining £217,000 paid from the zoo's own coffers.
The funds are part of a £1.15million Heritage Lottery Fund contribution that
alongside the four Tecton restorations, has seen the refurbishment of the 1958 chairlift and the launch of an apprenticeship scheme for concrete repair and conservation skills.
Mr Suddock said: "It's been five years in the making, but it's a unique project and will give the buildings a much-deserved renaissance and secure them for future generations."
