The Phenomenon of the Night Safari

Bernard HarrisonPrincipal Partner Creativity & DesignBernard Harrison & Friends Ltd

OutlineThe PhenomenonNocturnal HousesDeveloping the Night Safari Concept Types of Night Developments

The Phenomenon

Zoos open at 9am & close at 5pm

An accepted paradigm throughout the world

Why?Because office hours are from 9 am to 5pmShops shut in Germany on Sunday.the one day that people have time to shop!

Why a Night Safari? To display nocturnal animal at night

When theyre active

From nightfall until midnight

In an outdoor, natural setting

Nocturnal Houses

Nocturnal HousesMost tropical mammals are nocturnalMost birds are diurnalFrustrated zoo directors & curators for yearsMany charismatic mega-vertebrates spend their days asleep

Nocturnal HousesNational Zoo, Washington, D.C. first started experiments with reverse lighting in the early 1940s World of Darkness, Bronx Zoo

Nocturnal Houses

These experiments were imitated & improved at the Brookfield Zoo & Chester Zoo

Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo

Nocturnal Houses1953 Bristol Zoo opened first nocturnal houseThe phenomenon was soon reproduced all over the world

Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo

Nocturnal Houses

Reverse lighting convinces the nocturnal animal to change its circadian rhythm Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo

Nocturnal Houses

To achieve this - illumination differential between day & night lighting must be convincing Daylight =100,000lux Moonlight =1lux

Night Safari, Singapore

The Problem With Nocturnal HousesCannot display large mammals Vegetation is very difficult to maintainAnimals dont have access to sun lightMaintained in small holding spacesAlice Springs Desert Park

Developing the Night Safari Concept

Why did we set up the Night Safari?

Forced to review 60 hectares of rain forest Lyn de Alwis - based it on Tiger Tops

Tiger tops, Chitwan National ParkLyn de Alwis

To see a tiger kill at night

Some Reserves in Africa offer night viewsTreetops, Kenya

Natural night attractionsFairy penguins in Victoria and Tasmania

Essence of the Night Safari ConceptBring people in at night when animals are activeSingapores nights are cool and pleasantSimulate moonlight to illuminate exhibits

Night Safari, Singapore

The Need to Change the Model

Need to increased visitor capacity & financial viabilityMore managed conceptThemed - visit to a national parkAttention to design, lighting & orchestrating experienceNight Safari, Singapore

Financing

The single reason why so many great ideas around the world do not fly is insufficient financingThomas Edison Vacuum Tube Kitten Guillotine

Financing

Singapore Government took 2 years to approve US$40mKaziranga national Park, Assam, India

Financing

Couldnt believe Singaporeans would leave their TV set at night to visit a forest

Night Safari, Singapore

Planning & DevelopmentDesign & construction took 3 yrs - opened 1994Developed on 40 hectares of forested & undulating land

Aerial View of Site

Visitor Flow

Animals

Commenced with 1,000 specimens from 100 speciesAsia, Africa and South America

Flying squirrel in flight

Large naturalistic habitats

Colour temperature5000K

Light DirectionHabitat Lighting

Habitat Lighting Theatrical focusNo fixed level but average of 30 luxBroad, wash lights & narrow, spot lightsWarm, orange fire or lamp light in shelters

Habitat LightingHigh masts 8 to 12 m high

Lighting up the forest

Lighting up the forest

Exhibit designFollow general zoo design principlesGreater control over what is visibleExhibits as stage sets

Naturalistic behaviours in naturalistic surroundings

BOSInitial tram capacity - 3,500 bums on seats (bos) per nightIncrease to 6,000 (bos)

Business opportunitiesTap new and different market segmentsDifferent time zone - does not compete directly with the day zooCan be developed to address slow periods

Business opportunities

MICE market & EventsNatural dinner package

Types of Night Developments

Night Safari as a dedicated attractionNight Safari, Singapore

Chime-long Night Zoo, China

Night Safari as a dedicated attraction

Chiang Mai, ThailandNew Delhi - Greater Noidamaster planning

Night Safari, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Arent deserts logical places?Hot days & cool nights?Al Ain, Abu Dhabi..concept development

Some have developed Night ZooWhere fixed lighting is installed into a day zooLimited seasons or week endsSan Diego, USATaronga, AustraliaTaman Safari, IndonesiaTaronga Night Zoo

Indigenous fauna as night attraction?

Paignton Zoo showed wild badgers under artificial lightingWild badgers at night

Night Safari concept can be developed in an existing zooStoatEuropean otterDevelop a zone opened only at night

Singapore shifted the paradigm Singapore Government is one of the most risk adverse in the world

Do you believe?In winter - at night?Can you create more BOS?

Dream on.

dreamer

Thank you

Whats important to develop concept?Consistent sun set times?Pleasant evenings?Tall trees?

Another paradigm shift in the 20th century was developed in Singapore 11 years ago, with the opening of the Night Safari. Conceived by Sri Lankan zoo and national park director Lyn de Alwis and developed by the team at the Singapore Zoological Gardens led by myself, we created the simple but totally unique concept of displaying nocturnal animals when they are active at night in a national park setting under subtle and theatrical lighting, which simulates moonlight. Over 1,000 specimens of 100 species can be seen in a tropical rain forest set The ProductDesign and construction took 3 years and the Night Safari, Singapore opened 1994. It was developed on 40 hectares of forested and undulating land. Initially it was called the Asian Night Safari, focusing on Asian species as a marketing and branding strategy. Later the scope was changes to the Night Safari, which opened the range of species that could be displayed. It commenced with 1,000 specimens from 100 species of animals from Asia, Africa and South America. Such animals as the Asian elephant and the greater one horned rhinoceros were given 4-hectare exhibits in which to roam. Spacious areas were developed for tigers, lions, Nile hippopotamus, striped and spotted hyaena, sloth bear, leopard, giant anteaters and herds of deer & antelope. It was radically different form a nocturnal house and our zoo colleagues from Europe and the USA especially were fascinated.Planning Considerations

Separation of road and foot trails Zonation for human activities and animal habitats Concealment of service area easier, more flexible but care with service light spill Views sightlines as for day exhibits; greater focus on intimate, framed views rather than vistas Path / road routes can exploit darkness to avoid cross views, subject to lighting considerations

Task of illuminating exhibits to simulate moonlight

Light levels- the moon reflects sunlight but very low intensity: 0.3 lux. Max. sunlight is of the order of 100,000 lux.

Precise levels for night exhibits is not important provided it does not disturb nocturnal animals, is bright enough for people to see and look realistic. Practical range is 10 100 lux.

Objects appear more natural when lit from above

Angle of sun and moon light is same everywhere, therefore best simulated with many light sources rather than from a few stadium-type towers

Colour temperature moonlight is same colour as the sun but we imagine it is 'blue' (as in movies). Sunlight is around 5000K. White incandescent light is around 3200K. Blue filters are used to make the correction

'Artificial light' for public areas warm oil lamp or kerosene light (colour temp. around 2000K) provides contrast with 'moonlight'

Spread and focus wide angle wash light for general illumination; focused beam light for highlight, interest and improving visibility of animals Task of illuminating exhibits to simulate moonlight Light levels- the moon reflects sunlight but very low intensity: 0.3 lux. Max. sunlight is of the order of 100,000 lux. Precise levels for night exhibits is not important provided it does not disturb nocturnal animals, is bright enough for people to see and look realistic. Practical range is 10 100 lux. Objects appear more natural when lit from above Angle of sun and moon light is same everywhere, therefore best simulated with many light sources rather than from a few stadium-type towers Colour temperature moonlight is same colour as the sun but we imagine it is 'blue' (as in movies). Sunlight is around 5000K. White incandescent light is around 3200K. Blue filters are used to make the correction 'Artificial light' for public areas warm oil lamp or kerosene light (colour temp. around 2000K) provides contrast with 'moonlight' Spread and focus wide angle wash light for general illumination;

Principles and techniques generally similar to daytime displays

Field of view more limited and controlled. Therefore do not have to pay as much attention to detail to all areas as in daylight conditions, particularly to screening side and rear barriers

Barrier design same as for day, perhaps erring on side of security

Glass views from shelters easier to obtain illusion of look out to the wilderness rather than into an enclosure

Analogy with stage set decoration and lighting

Painterly composition light and shade, depth, layering

Animal features ('exhibit furniture') resting areas, scratching posts, wallows, pools, salt licks, shelter, other enrichment features

More flexible placement of service areas / day quarters might be visible by day by concealed at night, but take care with service lighting

Follow general design principlesGreater control over is visibleExhibits as stage setsPainterly treatment of textures and lightingPrinciples and techniques generally similar to daytime displays Field of view more limited and controlled. Therefore do not have to pay as much attention to detail to all areas as in daylight conditions, particularly to screening side and rear barriers Barrier design same as for day, perhaps erring on side of security Glass views from shelters easier to obtain illusion of look out to the wilderness rather than into an enclosure Analogy with stage set decoration and lighting Painterly composition light and shade, depth, layering Animal features ('exhibit furniture') resting areas, scratching posts, wallows, pools, salt licks, shelter, other enrichment features More flexible placement of service areas / day quarters might be visible by day by concealed at night, but take care with service lighting Follow general design principlesGreater control over is visibleExhibits as stage setsPainterly treatment of textures and lighting

1997 - NightZoo is open this year from 5.30 - 9.30pm each Wednesday to Saturday during the month of October Badgers - Paignton Zoo, EnglandA small but fascinating project. Feral badgers moved into the zoo, and a decision was taken to display them: working in close collaboration with conservation experts, not to disturb the badger sett, I designed a lighting installation to minimise ground impact, and to simulate a bright full moon.