Giraffe House

Taxonomy

Places

Code

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

          2 Authority record results for Giraffe House

          Only results directly related
          Burton, Decimus
          Burton, Decimus
          Person · 1800-1881

          Architect of London Zoo. By the end of 1829, Burton had completed London Zoo, which had opened in April 1928.