Elephant House At Dudley Zoo

PLAN: The main section is rectangular on plan, with a narrow, gently convex range to the south-east, longer than the rectanular section. At either end, a flanking staircase rises from the lower level to the upper terrace.

MATERIALS: Reinforced concrete.

EXTERIOR: The structure is built into the slope between two terraces, a single-storey range, with a gently curving glazed front (clad in split-pale timber at the time of inspection in 2011), set under a deeply-overhanging roof plate with projecting balconies. The parapet with raised coping used for all the Tecton animal houses around the zoo - the low wall has its coping raised on elliptical-section steel struts, giving adults a raised surface on which to lean, and allowing children to view the animals without being lifted up - is here employed as a balustrade and handrail to the flanking staircases, which allows access to the viewing area on the upper level, and continues as a wall around the roof terrace above the animal house. A clerestorey with obscure-glazed square timber windows rises through the roof terrace, lighting the indoor areas, and forming the only part of the building visible from the castle. The lower terrace retains iron rings formerly used for tethering the elephants' feet.