São Paulo Zoo and Botanical Garden

SÃO PAULO

Resignifying the Zoo and the Botanical Gardens

The São Paulo Zoological Park, Zoo Safari and the Botanical Garden are part of the Fontes do Ipiranga State Park (PEFI), one of the most significant remnants of Atlantic Forest in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region, with more than 500 hectares.  The Government of the State of São Paulo aimed to open these areas for concession to bring more benefits to the place and society, to enhance the characteristics and qualities of the places, the conservation of public assets and environmental assets, the diversification of activities for public use, among other factors.

The project consists of structuring the feasibility study and technical-operational, economic-financial and legal modeling. The technical-operational front evaluated and defined the technical specificities of the granted object. The study outlines the operational aspects of the project, such as expected staff, technology, engineering challenges and other topics related to Charges to be charged to the private partner, within the scope of the contract. The economic-financial front consolidated the technical-operational study, assessing the economic-financial viability of the concession and defining the contractual prices (grant, tariff, etc.), payment structure and incentive and selection mechanisms for the contract. The legal front synthesized all other studies in a contract that reflected the interests of the state and society with the object granted.

PEFI is inserted in a territory with urban infrastructure, connected to the transport system of the municipalities of São Paulo, Diadema and São Bernardo do Campo and close to several public facilities, emphasizing its relevance not only as a Conservation Unit and for the preservation of biodiversity, but also as a strategic point of reference on a regional scale.

The work covers an extensive diagnosis of the areas, addressing an analysis at different scales, allowing the structuring of a synthesis where the main potentials and challenges of the areas were identified. The relevance in the commitment to conservation, the opportunity to bring the urban population closer to nature and to promote unique experiences, the existing topography, and the opportunity to expand the offerings of services and attractions were identified as some of the project’s potentials. On the other hand, the need to modernize in the face of contemporary demands from zoos and botanical gardens, the flow of access and parking, the lag in the structuring of visitation and the use of spaces aimed at the public, make up some of the challenges to be faced by the project.

Based on the premises and concepts about the contemporary nature of the Zoo and Botanical Gardens and based on the opportunity to carry out a concession that encompasses the two facilities together, the conservationist role of these institutions stands out, as centers of studies and research. in the conservation of endangered fauna and flora species. It is through education, research and the integration and sensitization of society to the conservation of natural environments that the future concept of equipment is outlined.

In this way, it is proposed to create a Biodiversity Conservation Center, divided into two sectors: Fauna Sector (for the Zoo) and Flora Sector (for the Botanical Garden).

The main objective of the Biodiversity Conservation Center is to promote knowledge about the fauna and flora of the entire Botanical Garden and Zoo, that is, it means being intimately committed to conserving and disseminating the importance and wealth of the natural world.

We proposed the consolidation of a major articulation axis for visitation and public use. Thus, it is assumed a backbone through the water axis that retrieves the history of the State Park Fontes do Ipiranga and, at the same time, enhances the exploration of new activities for public use integrated both with nature and the urban environment.

In the Fauna Sector, we foresee the organization of the breeding stock in thematic nuclei, whose distribution seeks a variety of sizes and types of nuclei. In this way, the themes are presented in a flexible way and with gradual transitions through the vegetation that naturally separate different habitats. It is worth mentioning that one of the determining factors for the design is the provision of more free space for animals, seeking their well-being and quality of life.

Regarding the proposed uses program, we anticipate the creation of an axis along the lake area, with the implementation of gastronomy equipment with restaurants, cafes, food kiosks and picnic areas, reinforcing this axis of integrated public use activities. The landscape of the lake and the very implantation of buildings associated with topography. In addition to the implementation of uses for gastronomy and shopping, new attractions are also planned, such as the 4D Cinema, cable car, visitor center and the rehabilitation of existing uses, such as infirmary, shops, ticket office and contemplation areas, among others.

To organize the visitor’s experience when accessing the Zoological Park, we propose to unify access for all visitors, allowing immersion in the PEFI from the beginning, in addition to solving the structural issues of the transposition of Miguel Stéfano Avenue from the parking lot.

The central square, on the other hand, makes up not only the new arrival structure of the Zoo, but also an essential point for the new reorganization of flows. From this central core, integrated with the design of the main circulation, this area is configured as a point of support and development of new uses and activities.

The development of a thematic nucleus intends to reinforce the concepts of immersion in natural habitats (balance between fauna and flora); separation from natural barriers; wider and free spaces for animal welfare; and, mainly, to strengthen environmental preservation and recovery. For the beginning of the visitation, within each thematic nucleus, a transition area is associated, in which the theme is presented with the aid of audiovisual and expographic materials for the purposes of environmental education. The internal areas of the nucleus, on the other hand, will have the character of thematic service squares for the exploration of stores and food areas.

The Flora Sector comprises the area of the Institute of Botany in two perimeters, the Visitors Area and the Technical Area. A new visitor´s sector has been incorporated covering the area of Lago das Garças, previously of restricted access, thus configuring an axis of public use between the Botanical Garden and the Zoo, consolidating one of the main conceptual premises. The main visitation axis of the Botanical Garden is enhanced, incorporating new uses and attractions, based on the relocation of technical uses present in four buildings located in the visitor´s area.

Among the proposed interventions, the improvement of services and infrastructure aimed at public use, such as food service (cafe and restaurant), library, square and event space, amphitheater and outdoor stage, sculpture garden, among others, are planned.