Zoo Atlanta is a popular tourist location in Atlanta, Georgia that is home to a unique variety of animals. This zoo originates back to 1889 and has had its fair share of ups and downs throughout its history. Today the zoo boasts an impressive and healthy collection of animals and tourism is increasing every year. During my observation I chose to focus on the materials and vegetation used to decorate the four distinct sections of the Zoo.
The African Plains section of the zoo uses materials that blend in with the color of the bare earth. All of the bridges and barriers are composed of wood. The wood used in these features are not painted with elaborate finishing. They have a rustic, unpolished finish that helps the colors blend in with the environment. Additionally, the wooden posts are cut at an angle and .placed into the ground in various non-uniform positions. The environment itself consists of flat, light brown dirt that is sparsely vegetated and the dark gray boulders on the edges provide contrast to the ground. The vegetation in the African Plains consists of vibrant, low grasses that are commonly found in real plains. The African Rain Forest section is similar in all material aspects but the vegetation is notably different. The African Rain forest consists of many colossal, looming trees with gargantuan and complex root systems visible at the base. The animals in the exhibit live around the base of the trees whereas the animals in the African Plains section roam freely in the flat grounds.
The Asian Forest section of the zoo uses architecture and vegetation that mimics traditional southeast Asian environments. The entrance to this section of the park is a miniature dougong style building with vibrant red and brown linings. Other symbols of East Asian culture such as Chinese calligraphy and shaded lanterns can be found littered throughout the area. The fencing is made up of lines of dead, uneven bamboo shoots. The bamboo fences contrast greatly with the wooden fences in the previous section because of the type of wood and the lack of precisely measured construction. The vegetation in the Asian Rainforest consists of luscious, green bamboo shoots. The bamboo is thick and tightly packed thus reducing the sunlight that enters.
The final section I observed is the Kidzone which appeared to mimic an American farm through its use of materials and vegetation. The main structure was a building constructed of light grey sheet metal that housed numerous cattle and horses. The barriers in this area were composed of wooden posts and metal wire fencing. A multicolored, vibrant train of miniature size ran along tracks that surrounded the Kidzone. The train has an elaborate smoke stack, a cow catcher, and a cylindrical front body that resembles vintage trains during the industrial revolution. The Kidzone featured classic American oak trees and pine trees.
