Te Puna @ Auckland Zoo

Te Puna “The Spring” opened in 2020 the zoo’s newest cafe and function venue has been cleverly designed to create a calm oasis, right in the heart of the zoo. A stunning piece of architecture, with fluid lines and sheltered niches, creating various spaces to sit, eat and socialise, overlooking the lake in the middle of the South East Asia Jungle Track. Designed by Stevens Lawsons Architects in association with Jack McKinney Architects, a focus on environmental performance was key as it needed to function as a cafe yet also be light and transparent to view the orangutans and siamangs as they range across aerial pathways across the lake. Architect Nicholas Stevens says “The clay-brick pod forms add the sculptural effect and anchor the building into a space, in contrast to the lightness and floating feel of the rest of it” A custom natural shade, on a smooth Roman profile, of 290x50x70 definitely helps this building fit into its environment. LOCATION: Auckland Zoo, Auckland ARCHITECTS: Stevens Lawson in assoc. with Jack McKinney Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Aspec Construction BRICKLAYER: C F King Contracting PHOTOGRAPHER: Matthew Connolly Photographer BRICK: Create Range Custom Roman 290x50x70