Vivarium Renovation and Extension 

The Vivarium is a reptile and amphibious creatures museum in Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world and has the most biodiversity per square kilometre of any nation. The Vivarium is located in Parque Carolina, in an old pump house that was built in 1957.

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When the Vivarium took possession of the building in 2002, they conducted a renovation and extension. The building currently has three main programmatic functions; the exhibition area, the administrative offices and the laboratories.

 

In the re-design, the different functions will be more clearly defined and seperated. In addition to the reorganisation of the existing building, the client's design brief calls for the addition of a library, auditorium, coffee shop and additional staff facilities. The addition derives its proportions from the existing building and aims to seamlessly unite a contemporary form with a more historic design language. The existing configuration isolated the Vivarium from the rest of the park. The intervention would reunite the Vivarium with the park and improve the surrounding area. The intention was to create a stimulating yet harmoniuous environment for the staff and visitors to the Vivarium and park.

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Specific descriptions available below images. (Click to expand)