OURWORLD BRISTOL An Enlightened Future for Bristol Zoo Gardens An Enlightened Future for CHAPTERBristol EADING / SECTIONZoo Gardens OUR WORLD BRISTOL A magical garden of wonders - an oasis of learning, of global significance and international reach forged from Bristol’s long established place in the world as the ‘Hollywood’ of natural history film-making. Making the most of the city’s buoyant capacity for innovation in digital technology, its restless appetite for radical social change and its celebrated international leadership in creativity and story-telling. Regenerating the site of the first provincial zoological garden in the World, following the 185 year old Zoo’s closure, you can travel in time and space to interact in undreamt of ways with the wildest and most secret aspects of the animal kingdom and understand for the first time where humankind really sits within the complex web of Life on Earth. b c OURWORLD BRISTOL We are pleased to present this preliminary prospectus of an alternative future for Bristol's historic Zoo Gardens. We do so in the confidence that we can work with the Zoo, the City of Bristol and the wider community to ensure that the OurWorld project is genuinely inclusive and reflects Bristol’s diverse population and vitality. CONTENTS Foreword 2 A Site Transformed 23 A Transformational Future for the Our Challenge 4 Zoo Gardens 24 Evolution of the Site Through Time 26 Site Today 27 Our Vision 5 Reimagining the Site 32 A Zoo Like No Other 6 Key Design Moves 34 Humanimal 7 Anatomy 38 Time Bridge 10 Alfred the Gorilla Lives Again 12 Supporters And Networks 45 Supporters 46 Networks 56 Advisors and Contact 59 Printed in Bristol by Hobs on FSC paper 1 FOREWORD OURWORLD BRISTOL FOREWORD Photo: © Dave Stevens Our demand for resources has Bristol Zoo will hold fond This century we are already pushed many other memories for so many. I species over the brink, to remember visiting as a child, and facing the greatest extinction. Our energy-hungry I have taken my own children challenge humanity lifestyles have created a climate there - enjoying their wonder at has ever seen. As crisis. The challenge we all face seeing some of the incredible is one that will require people animals that we share this planet a species, we’ve to cooperate and to innovate. with. But it’s time to reimagine become victims of our And we will only succeed if we what a zoo could be - and can learn to live, not by fighting how it could help us meet the own success, pushing against nature, but thriving environmental challenge we face. at the bounds of the with it. planet’s capacity to This, then, is the new vision for This challenge is facing us Bristol Zoo - a new idea of a support us. now, but it will also be the work zoo for the twenty first century. of generations to come: our People of all ages would come children, our grandchildren, here, not to see exotic animals in great grandchildren. If we are to cages, but to engage with nature rise to the challenge, I believe across the planet, in a venture we need to nurture a deep love underpinned by Bristol’s long and a deep understanding of the history of expertise in wildlife natural world. film-making and exploration of the natural world, and inspired by Imagine: an oasis in the city. A Bristol’s well deserved reputation haven for nature with beautiful as a green pioneer. gardens and with experiences that let you see, hear and It’s such a perfect seed of an feel immersed in natural idea. It just needs us to tend environments all around the it, to make it flourish. I hope world: diving deep into oceans that you can help us to make it with whales, braving the icy happen. Arctic to see polar bears, soaring high with eagles, seeing a Professor Alice Roberts rainforest alive with life. A place Anatomist, author & broadcaster for inspiring children - and for The 'World of Water' building (previously the lifelong learning. May 2021 Aquarium) in the northeast corner of the site 2 3 INTRODUCTION OURWORLD BRISTOL OUR CHALLENGE attraction of global reach, an the planetary emergency and The planetary open platform for business and green economy. a unique place for the convening emergency brings of research to explore a new set urgency. Climate of discoveries and innovations change, ocean health, that will help achieve the positive “I've always found decline in biodiversity change needed. the wisest and safest and the resulting toll The existing Bristol Zoo site plans go straight in on the Earth’s systems brings a unique history in its the direction that you connections to telling stories believe to be right, and our own society is of the natural world. Founded OUR VISION a global siren call for with a pioneering vision to and to plan without every city and every understand the natural world, it fear or compromise.” is a space that is both historic Isambard Kingdom Brunel citizen to mobilise. and green in a location that We must seize hold brings together the arts, science and education with innovation of, and connect with, and entrepreneurship. Join our green spaces. us on a journey in reinventing We must find ways to the Zoo, making it relevant for the next 200 years and a protect and restore place of international renown our natural world so for innovating and showcasing that it can continue to solutions that protect and celebrate our natural world. support life in all its forms. The transformation of the site into OurWorld comes at a unique moment in time for Bristol and Bristol is at the heart of scientific the planet. Serving the local research, education, invention, community and driving change trade and storytelling. A place at a global level. Relevant, action it has occupied for over two orientated and open to all. The centuries. The 21st century following pages lay out our vision Green Enlightenment brings for the site, its connection to the the possibility to create a newly people of Bristol and beyond, interpreted public space, a visitor and its potential vital impact on 4 5 OUR VISION OURWORLD BRISTOL A ZOO LIKE NO OTHER HUMANIMAL Fusing the site's rich heritage on Bristol’s global reputation in signal to each other where to until they die? Do you really A pioneering with emerging technologies natural history film-making, its find the hidden pools of nectar. understand that you are an will enable opportunities for buoyant capacity for innovation An ever-changing See what is the unseen daily animal too? Do animals perceive and sustainable exploration and new experiences in digital technology, its restless exhibition using lives of these and many other and think about the world in the development of this where no two visits will be the appetite for radical social change AR, VR and cutting remarkable animals. same way that we do? Do they vital, prestigious and same. and its celebrated international see and hear and feel things leadership in creativity and edge audio-visual This celebration of life will help differently? They’ve been doing it historically rich site From a concept developed by theatrical story-telling. techniques to re- you understand your ancestors for far longer than we have. strips back the layers Bristol Old Vic Artistic Director examine mankind’s from deep past and inspire you Tom Morris OBE and Eden On the abandoned site of the first to imagine how it might have Why do animals come in so of history to create Project’s Professor Michael provincial zoological garden in relationship with the been to live as another kind many different sizes, and how a playground for the Depledge CBE in collaboration Britain, you can travel in time and world. of creature. Take a crab for did we end up as such giants imagination of today with ground-breaking scientists, space to interact in undreamt of example. What would it be like to compared to the vast majority of technologists and attraction ways with the wildest and most Curated by the Eden Project, this have your lunch go up from your other species? How come some and the technology of specialists from across the secret aspects of the animal festival of wonder and learning mouths to your stomach, or to species have two sexes and tomorrow. globe, OurWorld will embrace the kingdom and understand for will bring the cutting edge of urinate from apertures between others none? rapidly evolving technologies of the first time where humankind digital technology together with your eyes? Or...the 12 visual Augmented and Virtual Reality really sits within the web of life representatives of the Kingdom channels of the mantis shrimp. Come and listen to the music and live animal encounters to on Earth. of Animals to explore the ever- that so many animals make, from provide a canvas for myriad changing relationship between Consider how it would be to the songs of mice and whales performances, educational Featured attractions will include: animals of the humankind and breathe both air and water, and to rhythmic beat of cicadas and experiences and immersive art those of the natural world. the convenience, if you lost one snapping shrimps. And then installations that will ignite the • Humanimal Moving through our perceptual of your 8 legs or two claws, figure out how those animals imagination and promise a truly • Time Bridge spaces and experiencing the of being able to simply grow who don’t have ears hear it magical experience every time. • Alfred the Gorilla Lives ecosystem, it will transform another! all! Listen to the soundscapes Again and explore the fantasies of of nature changing as we lose A Bristolian attraction and oasis anthropomorpsism.