This has been one of the most exciting projects in the history of KaGo & Hammerschmidt so far. In 16 months a complete new area called „Islands at Chester Zoo“ was created.

KaGo & Hammerschmidt took over the total of artificial rock constructions in all areas and animal compounds, indoors as well as outdoors, including the walkways. This also incorporated the replication of trees, façade decorations with ornaments, masks and figures, illusion painting on walls and doors, huge buttress root trees and overthrown, snapped trees, mudbanks, waterfalls and decoration of steam courses, caves, bridges, underwater decorations, roots and much more.

construction time: approx. 16 months
up to 40 employees on site
completion: July 2015

Letter of recommandation download PDF

Subzone Alaska

Decoration of compounds for seals and polar bears in and out of water upon the archetype of a real polar mountain landscape. Construction of a tunnel underneath, from where the breath-taking underwater world can be observed.

total surface: approx. 10.000 sqm
construction time: 2 years
up to 60 employees on site
completion: April 2006

Subzone Africa

Construction of artificial rocks in various compounds for apes, hedgehogs and many other animals.

total surface: approx. 2.000 sqm
construction time: 6 months
8 employees on site
completion: July 2006

Gondwanaland

The newly built zone in Leipzig Zoo was themed by KaGo & Hammerschmidt with several enclosures and walkways. From artificial rocky landscapes in different designs over lying rocks with heating features for the animals, an impressive waterfall with several terrace-like basins for catching the huge water amounts, tree replications, grottos, cave passageways, watercourses to an enormous tree bridge with an underwater landscape; everything was composed to the finest detail.

A 300 m long tunnel with 1.000 sqm surface area was themed as a run-down mining-gallery and leads the visitors below ground to see several terrariums and aquariums.

surface area: 7.000 sqm
17 employees on site
construction time: 15 months
completion: July 2011

Tropical Aquarium

Theming of the tropical aquarium und various animal enclosures with artificial rocks in various designs, in and out of water, as well as different walls and trees. Replication of an old mining gallery, versatile buildings and a sunken submarine.

surface area: approx. 4.000 – 4.500 sqm
construction time: 7 months
18 employees on site
completion: June 2007

Mountain in Himalayan Thars` enclosure

Refurbishment at the heritage-protected, 100-year-old artificial mountain, including removal of old and ramshackled parts, bracing of side surfaces, anchorage of gaps and fissures and a final protective coating over the whole artificial mountain, where each rock measures between 12-15 metres.

Elephant House

Theming of the elephant house as an Indian temple with columns, filigree sculptures, wall fragments and replicated rocks. Construction of a waterspouting combination of several animal heads and ornaments.

surface area: approx. 800 sqm
construction time: 2 months
6 employees on site
completion: October 2006