An Enlightened
Future for Bristol Zoo Gardens
A magical garden of wonders - an oasis of learning, of global significance and international reach forged from Bristol’s long established place in the world as the ‘Hollywood’ of natural history film-making. Making the most of the city’s buoyant capacity for innovation in digital technology, its restless appetite for radical social change and its celebrated international leadership in creativity and story-telling.
Regenerating the site of the first provincial zoological garden in the World, following the 185 year old Zoo’s closure, you can travel in time and space to interact in undreamt of ways with the wildest and most secret aspects of the animal kingdom and understand for the first time where humankind really sits within the complex web of Life on Earth.
An Uncaged World: You are inside the original cage of Alfred the Gorilla, star of the Bristol Zoo from 1930 to 1948. The bars are bent open. Step out into OurWorld Bristol and explore the rich diversity of living things with whom we share the planet.
We propose sensitive incremental changes. The first phase (above) will pioneer recolonisation of the site. The Zoo closes and the site is quiet, animal shelters deserted and the lake is still. The first move is by the great Arcadia spider, created in Bristol out of reused industrial machinery.
The nesting site.
An Uncaged World: You are inside the original cage of Alfred the Gorilla, star of the Bristol Zoo from 1930 to 1948. The bars are bent open. Step out into OurWorld Bristol and explore the rich diversity of living things with whom we share the planet.
A view from the Clifton Downs looking into Bristol Zoo as it stands today, alongside the proposed view looking into OurWorld Bristol.
FAQs
What’s happening?
We have come together to shape a vision for the world’s first augmented reality zoo in Bristol, based within Bristol Zoo's historic 12 acre gardens which are currently threatened to be lost to private housing development. We are convinced there is a more enlightened future for this site, which directly benefits the city region and contributes to the making of a better world.
What could it be?
We want to create a new resource for discovery through immersive experiences travelling in time, place and scale to experience animals in their natural habitat, enter the world of insects or visit our ancient ancestors and possible future scenarios. This virtual world sits alongside plans to create an enriched and more accessible city garden teeming with bugs, bees, birds and butterflies.
Who is involved?
OurWorld Bristol is a collective of organisations and people who are committed to working with the city to bring an inspiring new educational visitor attraction space to Bristol. It brings together a great South West research partnership, including the Eden Project and programmes based at the Universities of Bristol and Exeter. It is founded by film director Stephen Daldry, together with architect George Ferguson, Founder of Bristol’s Tobacco Factory, and Stuart Wood, Executive Director at creative education provider, boomsatsuma.
How can I get involved?
We want as many people and organisations as possible to support OurWorld Bristol:
Sign up to join our campaign.
Download the prospectus.
Show your support across social using #OurWorldBristol
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