Snowdon Aviary

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Scope note(s)

  • The Northern Aviary, widely known as the Snowdon Aviary, is the largest of the Zoo's aviaries. It is a large tension structure and made of aluminium. An early example of a walkthrough aviary, its landscaping is integrated with the circulation system to allow the public close up views of birds in a variety of habitats. The aviary arose from Sir Hugh Casson's 1958 Development Plan as a replacement for the Great Aviary of 1888, situated near the Main Gate. Anthony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon) was commissioned to design the building in 1960 on the strength of his design for a birdcage at Mereworth Castle and a recommendation by the Duke of Edinburgh, then President of the Zoological Society and Lord Snowdon's brother-in-law. Armstrong-Jones had trained (but not qualified) in architecture so Casson brought in Cedric Price, who was soon joined by his friend Frank Newby. Built 1962-64, with a benefaction of £50,000 from Jack Cotton; Anthony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon) and Cedric Price, architects; Frank Newby (of F J Samuely and partners), engineer; Leonard Fairclough (London) Limited, general contractor; Carter Horsley, suppliers of super-structure; Westminster Engineering, suppliers of mesh cladding; Margaret Maxwell (of Bridgwater, Shepheard and Epstein), landscape consultant. Cost £125,000. In July 2021, restoration work started on the aviary which will repurpose it to house colobus monkeys.

Source note(s)

  • The Buildings of London Zoo

Display note(s)

    Hierarchical terms

    Snowdon Aviary

    Snowdon Aviary

      Equivalent terms

      Snowdon Aviary

        Associated terms

        Snowdon Aviary

          28 Archival description results for Snowdon Aviary

          28 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
          Articles of Agreement to Construct a New Aviary
          LEG/6/16 · File · 1962
          Part of Legal

          Agreement and Schedule of Conditions of Building Contract between ZSL and Leonard Fairclough (London) Ltd. to construct a New Aviary. Includes Bill of Quantities and 2 sets of duplicate plans
          Correspondence with Buckingham Palace
          ROY/3 · File · 1936-1967
          Part of Royalty

          Correspondence between the Zoological Society of London and Buckingham Palace on topics such as admission tickets for the Gardens at Regent's Park and Whipsnade Park, the election of Vice-Presidents at the Zoological Society of London, the naming of the Snowdon Aviary, reports of the Annual General Meeting and Council meetings and luncheons for the Duke of Edinburgh
          Openings of enclosure and buildings
          EVE/6 · File · 1960-1970s
          Part of Events and Exhibitions

          Records relating to the opening of enclosures and buildings including the Michael Sobell Pavilion, the Snowdon Aviary, the Elephant and Rhino Pavilion, and the Nuffield Institute

           Zoological Society of London