Lubetkin book- Nature study

Berthold Lubetkin-
Architecture and the tradition of progress, John Allan

Chapter 6: Nature Study pages 222-239

I found this extract from the book particularly interesting...

'Shortly before the war, Lubetkin wrote a brief (unpublished) resume of his work at Dudley zoo which included the following definition.

There are two possible methods of approach to the problem of zoo design; the first, which may be called the 'naturalistic' method, is typified in the Hamburg and Paris zoos, where an attempt is made, as far as possible, to reproduce the natural habitat of each animal; the second approach, which, for want of a better word, we may call the geometric', consists of designing architectural settings for the animals in such a way as to present them dramatically to the public, in an atmosphere comparable to that of a circus.'

I've used the book to provide the sketches for my printed piece, as its the only source available to get the architectural drawings from. Its an inciteful read into Lubetkins design ideas and reasoning behind the architects structures/ decisions for the zoo's design.


It also tells of the difficulties he came across and explains in detail the various componets and structural arrangement.