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Gail
Y. B. Lash, Ph.D.
Nevin
Lash, ASLA
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Project Brief
Vitrine de Madagascar
Iavoloha, Madagascar
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Center piece of the Vitrine de Madagascar site, the Biodiversity Pavilion (#6 on plan below)
Site Plan: Vitrine de Madagascar
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INTRODUCTION
Conservation International asked Ursa to explore the
opportunities to build an Biodiversity Exhibit on the grounds of the
Presidential Palace outside of Antananrivo, Madagascar for the current
president, Marc Ravalomanana. This complex is a live collection
of the rich biodiversity of today’s Madagascar, it’s
plants, animals, it’s architectural heritage AND, like nowhere
else in the world, it is a display of Madagascar’s unique extinct
species taken from the fossil record.
The project is divided into 7 major project areas and covers
approximately 17 hectares (42 acres). Most visitors arrive after
passing through a new gate before the main gatehouse, and drive along
the existing roadway to a new central parking area. From the
existing Lemur Island, the Aquatic Life Pond and Bird Aviaries, The
visitor follows up the hill through the Lemur forest Trail and
into the Extinction Trail to the Biodiversity Pavilion located on the
top of the site in the footprint of the old Pagoda, and then down to
the new Auditorium. From there guests may rest on the Garden
Terraces where final views across the rice paddies to the free ranging
lemurs are possible.
Each area presents a different group of species within a natural
setting. The animals are contained within large habitats
specially designed for their needs with special animal management
areas. There are interpretive buildings for each project that
represent different architectural styles from different regions of the
country.
For the presentation to the President, we built a full-size fiberglass sculpture of one of the Extinct species, Megaladapus Edwardii,
that would be found in the trees on the Extinction Trail. A dozen
other extinct species will be eventually displayed in a natural context
to experience what it would have been like not that long ago, when
Giant Sloths, and Koala-like Lemurs inhabitated the forest.
The Biodiversity Pavilion is the crowning-jewel of the Park, with 8 major galleries and habitats and include:
1. The Gems of Madagascar exhibit, displaying some of the small,
endemic species such as the Parson’s chameleon, the spiny Tenrec,
the Mittermeier Mouse Lemur, and Leaf-nosed Snake other unique
creatures,
2. The free-flight tropical rainforest bird aviary where visitors can
explore a two story sky-lit space, with some of the rainforest birds
and chameleons, without visible barriers,
3. The Lemur Gallery, where several family groups of lemurs live in a
specially design mesh structure adjacent to the pavilion, viewed
through an expansive glass partition,
4. The Biodiversity Hall, where small, ‘jewel-tanks’
display living insect species, such as the Madagascar Cockroach,
centipedes, stick insects, leaf insects and other unique Malagasy
invertebrate species.
5. The Spiny Desert Conservatory; a re-creation of the dry forests of
the south, where truly unique plant species create a harsh environment
for a host of endemic species. This walk-through exhibit with a
controlled climate and glass roof will be a great introduction a very
important habitat.
6. The Garden Terrace; a relaxing outdoor patio where visitors can sit
and enjoy a drink or light snack surrounded by various small reptiles
overlooking the reptile pool.
7. The Future’s Gallery, an interpretive space that tells the
story of Conservation in Madagascar – what is being done to
protect the wild habitats and species in one of the most unique
countries on Earth.
8. The Fruit Bat Gallery; an exterior exhibit for the endangered fruit
bats. The visitors exit the pavilion surrounded by the bats that
will roost inches from them.
The Project is currently in fundraising. The scope of the project
expanded far beyond the original concept of a Bio-diversity Exhibit,
into a small wildlife education and breeding center for
Madagascar’s rarest of the rare.
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Credits
The Vitrine de Madagascar was
designed by Ursa
International
in collaboration with:
Stephen Nash, Conservation International/S.U.N.Y University
Megaladapis Reconstruction
and
Jack Heddon
Megaladapis Sculpture
Michel Rabariharivelo, Architect
Constructability Review
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Project Data
Design began: Spring
2007
target budget: $6 million
client: Conservation International, Inc.
client contact: Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D.
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