BIOTOPEHUB
Basic information
Project Title
BIOTOPEHUB
Full project title
BIOTOPEHUB-OPEN UP TO THE BIOTOPE
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
Immersive biological spaces are our specialty at Biotope Hub, an organization that unites designers of biological objects, biologists, endangered species specialists, technologists, landscape designers, biotope scenography designers and contractors, graphic designers, and managers. We carry out biotope projects in various forms, across different countries, for a range of investors and biological startups.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Poland
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Global overfishing, along with the vast amount of plastic pollution and climate change, is one of the biggest problems facing the world's aquatic ecosystems. Catastrophic fires, deadly floods, record-breaking heatwaves, and droughts are engulfing the world. Unfortunately, in the 21st century, the only safe havens where critically endangered species can survive are in scientific and research institutions, zoos and oceanariums, which promote biodiversity protection and allow visitors to enjoy close contact with the underwater world, which represents surviving nature. Afrykarium in ZOO Wroclaw was the first oceanarium in Poland. In 2017, it was recognized as the biological wonder of the world and the first ticketed attraction in Poland. Investing in biological projects in declining zoos has become a Polish specialty in saving the budgets of large cities. THE DEEP BLUE tangible contact with the surviving nature has become extremely inspiring. We completed projects as BiotopeHub team -architects, designers of Life Support System (LSS), scenography of biotopes, Biotope greenery, biologists, zoologists
Key objectives for sustainability
1. Location and transport Orientarium uses existing parking system and provide public transport to reduce private car use inside public park
2.Sustainable sites-Orientarium protects and maintains the natural habitat of species, reduces pollution and the use of natural resources and facilitate interaction with nature
3.Efficient use of water-our project minimized water consumption during construction and provided mechanisms to reduce the building's water footprint. The design of the treatment technology involves the circulation of water in a closed circuit between the animal tanks and the filters and buffer tanks. Rainwater recovery is used for sprinkling and watering plants inside the designed buildings and for diluting salty technological wastewater before discharging it into the sanitary sewage system. Two retention reservoirs have been designed for the storage of "clean" rainwater.
4.Energy and atmosphere- Orientarium reduced energy consumption and use renewable energy of earth and increase energy efficiency. Orientarium uses geothermal energy, waste heat from chillers and water treatment technology.
5. Materials and Resources - Orientarium used sustainable materials such as the wood of all trees growing on the construction site as enrichment for animal husbandry and development, and saved as many trees as possible during construction because as engineers, we were responsible for avoiding trees with design and infrastructure elements
6. Indoor environmental quality –The HVAC Orientarium system provides
6.1 air filtration to ensure adequate air quality
6.2 air humidification and dehumidification to ensure the required air quality
6.3 the required multiplicity of air changes in order to achieve the required air purity
6.4 the right amount of make-up air in order to ensure air balance
6.5 maintaining the required level of temperature and humidity as well as temperature and humidity stability in accordance with the requirements for animals and people
2.Sustainable sites-Orientarium protects and maintains the natural habitat of species, reduces pollution and the use of natural resources and facilitate interaction with nature
3.Efficient use of water-our project minimized water consumption during construction and provided mechanisms to reduce the building's water footprint. The design of the treatment technology involves the circulation of water in a closed circuit between the animal tanks and the filters and buffer tanks. Rainwater recovery is used for sprinkling and watering plants inside the designed buildings and for diluting salty technological wastewater before discharging it into the sanitary sewage system. Two retention reservoirs have been designed for the storage of "clean" rainwater.
4.Energy and atmosphere- Orientarium reduced energy consumption and use renewable energy of earth and increase energy efficiency. Orientarium uses geothermal energy, waste heat from chillers and water treatment technology.
5. Materials and Resources - Orientarium used sustainable materials such as the wood of all trees growing on the construction site as enrichment for animal husbandry and development, and saved as many trees as possible during construction because as engineers, we were responsible for avoiding trees with design and infrastructure elements
6. Indoor environmental quality –The HVAC Orientarium system provides
6.1 air filtration to ensure adequate air quality
6.2 air humidification and dehumidification to ensure the required air quality
6.3 the required multiplicity of air changes in order to achieve the required air purity
6.4 the right amount of make-up air in order to ensure air balance
6.5 maintaining the required level of temperature and humidity as well as temperature and humidity stability in accordance with the requirements for animals and people
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The preparation for the Orientarium project at the Łódź zoo in Poland began with an analysis of the entire surrounding area. Hundred-year-old trees and hundreds of large trunks are the background for the pavilions and paddocks, which are part of the Piłsudski Park and comprise the green areas of the zoo. The facade of the building with a length of over 300 m compliments the environment and individually represents an example of a biotope. The process of species extinction is intensifying, and their natural environments have already changed so much that they will not survive there in the coming years. Global overfishing, along with the vast amount of plastic pollution and climate change, is one of the biggest problems facing the world's aquatic ecosystems. Unfortunately, in the 21st century, the only safe havens where critically endangered species can survive are in scientific and research institutions, zoos and oceanariums, which promote biodiversity protection and allow visitors to enjoy close contact with the underwater world, which represents surviving nature. The task of the designer of the Orientarium was to create a space to observe endangered species of the Southeast Asia region.
Key objectives for inclusion
Regional priorities - Orientarium saved the budget of the city of Łódź by modernizing the entire local zoo, financial and image success was achieved, the implementation of the investment saved endangered species of animals, such as the Indian elephant, orangutans from Sumatra. The implementation of the investment has stimulated the local community of people with disabilities, families with young children who have full access to all functions and attractions of the facility, both inside and outside (the sightseeing path is gently sloping instead of stairs around the facility)
Results in relation to category
The Africarium in the Wrocław ZOO was the first oceanarium in Poland. In 2017, it was recognized as a biological wonder of the world and the first ticketed attraction in Poland.
The next one was Oceanario de Namibe in Angola, and the last one was the Orientarium at the ZOO in Łódź.
As part of BiotopeHub, we continue work on the Nautilus project in Gdańsk and the Safari Park in Vladivostok - unfinished due to the war. The Orientarium project in Łódź was awarded as part of the European Property Award 2022 - 5 stars for the Orientarium and the Best Project in Europe in 2 categories Recreation and Public Services, it was also a winner at the International Property Awards 2022-2023 level as the Best International Recreation Architecture 2023 and the Best International Public Services Architecture 2023. The BiotopeHub team and Szlachcic Architekci win the SARP 2023 Award of the Year and the Grand Prix for the Orientarium in Łódź. Biological projects showing endangered animals in conditions that reconnect them with nature were recognized as a form of art at the 2023 Florence Biennale, as Architecture of Biotopes. The Africarium and Orientarium projects received the Leonardo da Vinci Award from the President
The next one was Oceanario de Namibe in Angola, and the last one was the Orientarium at the ZOO in Łódź.
As part of BiotopeHub, we continue work on the Nautilus project in Gdańsk and the Safari Park in Vladivostok - unfinished due to the war. The Orientarium project in Łódź was awarded as part of the European Property Award 2022 - 5 stars for the Orientarium and the Best Project in Europe in 2 categories Recreation and Public Services, it was also a winner at the International Property Awards 2022-2023 level as the Best International Recreation Architecture 2023 and the Best International Public Services Architecture 2023. The BiotopeHub team and Szlachcic Architekci win the SARP 2023 Award of the Year and the Grand Prix for the Orientarium in Łódź. Biological projects showing endangered animals in conditions that reconnect them with nature were recognized as a form of art at the 2023 Florence Biennale, as Architecture of Biotopes. The Africarium and Orientarium projects received the Leonardo da Vinci Award from the President
How Citizens benefit
"I am ashamed that we have to use zoos," said zoologist professor and director of the Basel Zoo Heini Hediger. We, humans, have destroyed the natural environment, eaten many species whose protection and survival In the 21st century, modern zoos, research and basic parks have been used. The most important inhabitants of the gardens are the victims of the wildlife trade and bushmeat hunting and their descendants. All these animals fell victim to habitat destruction, poaching and poisoning. They were rescued, but will never be allowed to be released into the wild again. As part of the BiotopeHub project, we engaged directors of zoos, officials in the City Halls of Wrocław, Łódź and Gdańsk to organize the construction process, approve construction designs, gather designers of architecture, water purification technology, LSS, biologists, zoologists, and landscape designers. Then there was the process of agreeing the conditions for the exhibition of endangered species with organizations such as EAZA and WAZA. Biologists, members of these organizations, supervised the entire design and construction process from the beginning to ensure that the so-called good practices in the care of endangered species were not violated.
.
.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
Design innovations - Orientarium has implemented innovative sustainable development strategies during its construction. The pavilions were built at different heights to balance the earth masses and avoid costly waterproofing. The sophisticated shape of the pavilions has been adapted to the existing, valuable greenery. The construction logistics has been adjusted to the schedule of deliveries of valuable animal species from other zoos and science and research facilities. Designers made individual application projects for new, innovative construction materials without the CE mark - for ETFE foil, acrylic structures, for MOSO bamboo x-treme beams pressed bamboo cladding.
Buildings such as the Orientarium where there are 1.5 thousand visitors at a time, with a sightseeing path running through tunnels in animal pools and footbridges over the jungle, dark winding exhibition rooms, do not comply with the requirements s of the Polish Construction Law and the designers had to obtain 5 deviations from the regulations from the Minister Infrastructure. With such innovative projects, we pave the way for further biological projects.
Buildings such as the Orientarium where there are 1.5 thousand visitors at a time, with a sightseeing path running through tunnels in animal pools and footbridges over the jungle, dark winding exhibition rooms, do not comply with the requirements s of the Polish Construction Law and the designers had to obtain 5 deviations from the regulations from the Minister Infrastructure. With such innovative projects, we pave the way for further biological projects.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Immersive biological spaces are our specialty at Biotope Hub, an organization that unites designers of biological objects, biologists, endangered species specialists, technologists, landscape designers, biotope scenography designers and contractors, graphic designers, and managers. We carry out biotope projects in various forms, across different countries, for a range of investors and biological startups. The lead designer is Dorota Szlachcic, an IARP architect, ČKAIT architect, graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, president of the board of directors, head of the design team, chief designer, founder and co-owner of Szlachcic Architekci sp. z o.o.
Szlachcic Architekci team is the recipient of Poland’s most prestigious architectural award, the 2023 SARP Grand Prix and the 2023 SARP Award of the Year for the Orientarium in Łódź as a public utility building. The Orientarium in Łódź was also recognized by the International Property Awards as the Best International Leisure Architecture and Public Service Architecture for 2022-2023. Dorota Szlachcic received the Leonardo da Vinci Award from the President at the Florence Biennale 2023 for the Special Project: Architecture of Biotopes - I AM YOU.
Szlachcic Architekci team is the recipient of Poland’s most prestigious architectural award, the 2023 SARP Grand Prix and the 2023 SARP Award of the Year for the Orientarium in Łódź as a public utility building. The Orientarium in Łódź was also recognized by the International Property Awards as the Best International Leisure Architecture and Public Service Architecture for 2022-2023. Dorota Szlachcic received the Leonardo da Vinci Award from the President at the Florence Biennale 2023 for the Special Project: Architecture of Biotopes - I AM YOU.
Methodology used
We work in a team of designers, technologists and investor biologists using BIM technology - building information modeling. We are looking for local designers - specialists in biological projects so that our solutions increasingly restore lost nature.
All materials, design and construction elements reduce the building’s energy consumption.
1. green roof solutions:
-additional insulation in winter and protection against heating in summer,
-water storage and reduction of runoff,
- improvement of the microclimate in the environment,
-creating ecological pavements to compensate the -occupied land for construction,
- improvement of acoustic insulation,
-filtering harmful compounds from air and dust,
-electrosmog reduction,
- merging the building with its surroundings-with park and zoo
2. closed cycle water treatment technology in tanks with animals
3. closed cycle water treatment technology in tanks with animals
4.use of heat from technological processes of water treatment to heating selected zones of animal beds
5. use of the heat of the earth for the cultivation of tropical plant
6.use of the condensation formed constantly as a result of the dew point of the system roof cushions made of ETFE foil to maintain moisture in biotopes
7. ETFE foil cushions with 5 air and foil layers reduce heat loss through the transparent roof
8. Orientarium uses geothermal energy, waste heat from chillers and water treatment technology
9. the heat station is supplied from the municipal high-parameter heat network
10. Central Building Management System (BMS) and Live Support System or Water Treatment Technology (LSS) is designed to control and e heatmonitor designated processes and procedures for maintaining eat for tand operating an Orientarium facility, both for humans and animals
All materials, design and construction elements reduce the building’s energy consumption.
1. green roof solutions:
-additional insulation in winter and protection against heating in summer,
-water storage and reduction of runoff,
- improvement of the microclimate in the environment,
-creating ecological pavements to compensate the -occupied land for construction,
- improvement of acoustic insulation,
-filtering harmful compounds from air and dust,
-electrosmog reduction,
- merging the building with its surroundings-with park and zoo
2. closed cycle water treatment technology in tanks with animals
3. closed cycle water treatment technology in tanks with animals
4.use of heat from technological processes of water treatment to heating selected zones of animal beds
5. use of the heat of the earth for the cultivation of tropical plant
6.use of the condensation formed constantly as a result of the dew point of the system roof cushions made of ETFE foil to maintain moisture in biotopes
7. ETFE foil cushions with 5 air and foil layers reduce heat loss through the transparent roof
8. Orientarium uses geothermal energy, waste heat from chillers and water treatment technology
9. the heat station is supplied from the municipal high-parameter heat network
10. Central Building Management System (BMS) and Live Support System or Water Treatment Technology (LSS) is designed to control and e heatmonitor designated processes and procedures for maintaining eat for tand operating an Orientarium facility, both for humans and animals
How stakeholders are engaged
As part of the BiotopeHub project, we engaged directors of zoos, officials in the City Halls of Wrocław, Łódź and Gdańsk to organize the construction process, approve construction designs, gather designers of architecture, water purification technology, LSS, biologists, zoologists, and landscape designers. Then there was the process of agreeing the conditions for the exhibition of endangered species with organizations such as EAZA and WAZA. Biologists, members of these organizations, supervised the entire design and construction process from the beginning to ensure that the so-called good practices in the care of endangered species were not violated.
Global challenges
Global overfishing, along with the vast amount of plastic pollution and climate change, is one of the biggest problems facing the world's aquatic ecosystems. Catastrophic fires, deadly floods, record-breaking heatwaves, and droughts are engulfing the world. Unfortunately, in the 21st century, the only safe havens where critically endangered species can survive are in scientific and research institutions, zoos and oceanariums, which promote biodiversity protection and allow visitors to enjoy close contact with the underwater world, which represents surviving nature. We can no longer continue like this. The lives of both humans and animals are at risk.
Learning transferred to other parties
We are a multidisciplinary group of biological projects experts providing unique biotope stories and technologies. We believe that edutainment, rewilding and biodiversity conservation are key values to deliver next generation projects in sectors like zoos, commercial, entertainment or even retail. We provide a one-stop-shop approach where investors are given a full service on the design, management and maintenance, services / deliveries / contracting.
Keywords
biodiversity
edutainment
enrichment
Sustainable Economy
Life Support Systems
