Dochodo Island Zoo, South Korea [JDS Architects]

JDS Architects, offshoot of PLOT, have designed portions of a Zoo on the South Korean Island of Dochodo. The architecture firm said the project is a "case study to define a tourist region based on sustainable development only, where natures and structures function in equilibrium, symbiotically feeding one another."

The main architectural feat being the aviary, which is rendered with exceptionally clear glass? It is difficult to understand from the images what the building would look like, it will be interesting to see how it is upon completion. If it is a conditioned space, it would have an enormous heating and cooling load.

Its an exciting looking piece of geometry, reminiscent of the "Bird's Nest" by Herzog & de Meuron (are they still the only architecture group without a website?), but rather more organized structurally. It is a pretty image, but I am not sure if this will be a good piece of architecture once the details are finalized, or if it will achieve the sustainability it boasts.

See the story on Inhabitat:
"According to JDS, the zoo’s landscape of natural peaks and valleys is ideal for zoo development. The flat valleys could host animals, while more mountainous areas could be protected and treated as nature reserves. All transportation, energy sources and building systems would be housed in a so-called “infrastructural green belt” located at a height of 20 meters. Everything above and below would remain untouched.

The proposed zoo would be as low-impact as possible, with zero-carbon transport systems, renewable energy sources, rainwater collection sites, and all waste would be reused as either composted fertilizer or biofuel. Dochodo sounds like an ideal location for a low-impact zoo, but we have to wonder about the potential impact of tourists constantly shuttling from other cities to the island. To the architects’ credit, they did notify us that the island will be accessible by bridge, which is much better than having a location that is only reachable by plane."
images courtesy JDS architects