Zoological Garden, Etoscha-House 1998-1999, Basel CH
Constructor Zoologischer Garten, Basel CH
Architect Arch. Peter Stiener, Basel CH
Construction Management Arch. August Künzel, Basel CH
Statics Ullmann und Partner, Basel CH
Earthen builder Lehm Ton Erde Martin Rauch, Schlins A

A flock of great rammed earth walls encloses, in combination with reinforced concrete construction, this newly arranged predator caging. In order to achieve the closest naturalistic composure and presentation of flora and fauna, the choice of building materials and energy forms were embossed with these maxims. In this aspect, the 70cm thick outer wall in Pise-technique achieves optimal ecological and aesthetic qualities. Instead of the illusionistic painted backgrounds of other terrariums, the rammed earth walls show a coarse and sensual materialism behind the elaborate nature-tableaus of the separate sections. It is an un-scaled, seemingly thin boundary, its layers and color nuances in the streaks of light mediating a timeless and contemplative flicker, like the sea level being crinkled by fine waves.