Giraffe House

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Scope note(s)

  • The Giraffe House was built as a direct result of the acquisition of the London Zoo's first four giraffes, Selim, Mabrouk, Guib-allah and Zaida. It was built 1836-37, designed by Decimus Burton, architect. Wings were added 1849-50. It was bomb damaged in 1940 and largely rebuilt 1960-1963 by Franz Stengelhofen and Colin Wears, architects. It is Grade II listed. The central block is flanked by rebuilt low wings. That to the east was the Hippo House from 1850 when Obaysch arrived at the Zoo. The giraffe enclosure features a high-level viewing platform to give the public face-to-face contact with the giraffes and the 1837 Giraffe House is the oldest zoo building in the world still used for its original purpose.

Source note(s)

  • The Buildings of London Zoo

Display note(s)

    Hierarchical terms

    Giraffe House

    Giraffe House

      Equivalent terms

      Giraffe House

        Associated terms

        Giraffe House

          5 Archival description results for Giraffe House

          5 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
          Giraffe House plans
          Giraffe House plans
          ARC/15/1 · File · 1960-1961
          Part of Architecture and buildings

          Plan and section drawings relating to the remodelling of the Giraffe House, London Zoo. Some hand annotations. Architect/engin
          Tenlon, S S
          SEC/6/55 · File · 1848-1849
          Part of ZSL Secretaries

          Letters from S S Tenlon to David William Mitchell regarding the New Pheasantry, a building and enclosure for the aurochs, and for an addition to the Giraffe House at the Zoological Society of London
          Westminster Fire Office
          LEG/3/13 · File · 1837
          Part of Legal

          Insurance policies between the Zoological Society of London and Westminster Fire Office for the Giraffe House