SKELETON INTERPRETIVE CENTRE - DESIGN

Abstract

The balance between human developments and the earth's biological systems has always been an unstable one. With our success also comes about the destruction of Nature at an unimaginable rate. It is only through bringing about awareness that conservation means can achieve significant results in slowing down this process. Conservation education explaining the irreplaceable value of the entire biological system of our planet and all of its constituent components is one such powerful tool in raising the level of general awareness. Majority of the world's population are made up of urban dwellers that have little or no contact with nature. Thus, to effectively educate the masses about conservation issues, closeness, or rather access to nature is of paramount importance as it is through interaction that one will get to love and in loving, conserve. The zoo is one example of how nature is brought closer to the urban city dweller. The World Zoo Conservation Strategy notes that zoos reach hundreds of millions of people all over the world and thus, offers a great opportunity for education. Exposure to nature aside, effective communication of this conservation message is also important in advocating this cause. It is not enough for one to just love; the ultimate aim is to motivate one to act upon it. Also emphasized is the need for use of a wide variety of educational techniques, facilities and considerations together with knowledge, creativity and inventiveness to make zoos highly interesting, attractive and effective places for environmental conservation and holistic life system education. While the live animals are what most people would go to the zoo for, the World Zoo Conservation Strategy had also highly recommended the setting up of specialized centres that talk about conservation issues at large and in doing so brings to the visitor a more well rounded experience. It is in this light that this thesis will look into how the built environment can act as a platform for effective conveyance of conservation messages that complements the educational role of the zoo in bringing about conservation measures. Exhibition techniques for effective communication will also be explored and with findings from communication and behavioural theories, it is hoped that the design project would live up to what it had set out to achieve.