‘World first’ plans for Bristol Zoo unveiled

An alternative plan for the soon-to-relocate Bristol Zoo has been announced by some of the city’s leading creative, education and media figures.

#OurWorldBristol hopes to provide a fully immersive experience at the world first “augmented reality (AR) zoo”. Currently, the site may become private housing.

In contrast with the traditional zoo model of captive animals, the proposed AR wildlife park would let visitors to travel through space, time and scale to experience animals in their natural habitat.

From visiting the world of insects to going back to when dinosaurs roamed the adjacent Downs, the virtual world will be roamed with accessible city garden, which the team behind the project have also proposed.

The initiative has been created by film director Stephen Daldry with architect George Ferguson and Stuart Wood, executive director of boomsatsuma and is supported by organisations including the Eden Project, Cabot Learning Foundation and We The Curious.

The AR zoo has been proposed by leading city figures. Image: LDA Design

Created in partnership with landscape and urban designers LDA Design, the vision brings together ideas developed by the Eden Project with between the University of Bristol, the University of Bath and UWE Bristol.

As well as an AR zoo and city garden, #OurWorldBristol also plans to create a viewing tower offering sights across Clifton Downs, where visitors can use digital headsets to see Bristol during prehistoric times and a virtual walk around the area once occupied by Alfred the gorilla, who made Bristol Zoo famous during the 1930s and 1940s.

“We strongly believe there is a bright future for this historic and hugely significant site, which builds on the Bristol Zoological Society’s heritage as a global pioneer and benefits the whole city,” says Stephen Daldry.

“We want to create something that brings together the UK’s best qualities – creative, collaborative, spirited and environmentally conscious – to create a place for people to learn about the world around them, just as the zoo has done for generations.”

The proposed plans would transform the Bristol Zoo Gardens site. Image: LDA Design

A host of well-known names are backing the project, including Kalpna Woolf, CEO of BeOnBoard and 91Ways, Peter Lord, co-Founder of Aardman, Tom Morris, artistic director at Bristol Old Vic and archaeologist broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts.

“As a place for inspiring children and lifelong learning, I think this could be incredible for Bristol. It would be a place to come and connect with nature, to learn about conservation, and to help us all meet the environmental challenges we face,” says Roberts.

“Bristol has a reputation for being a green pioneer. Let’s not waste this opportunity to turn Bristol Zoo into a beacon for conservation and connection with the natural world, in the heart of the city.”

Main image: LDA Design

Read more: Bristol Zoo to permanently close its Clifton site