Giraffe House

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  • 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

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    Giraffe House

    Giraffe House

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      Giraffe House

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        Giraffe House

          1 Archival description results for Giraffe House

          1 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
          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