Three new aquarium panes for Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna
A landmark contract in one of the loveliest zoos in Europe (www.zoovienna.at) was successfully completed by our firm in July of this year.
Schönbrunn extended its already unique offer with the “Am Wasser” nature-experience path. The three large aquariums “Alpine Lake”, “River” and “Old Tributary” represent various typically local water situations and are integrated in a delightfully designed experience path.
Unfortunately the paths of the two partners, Schönbrunn Zoo and k-tec, crossed a bit too late and thus the aquarium was initially conceived in hard glass in the first plans. But after detailed planning it became clear that one cannot manufacture such curved panes of these dimensions with sufficient stability and safety from hard glass. Under pressure of time alternative materials were sought and found in the form of PLEXIGLAS (acrylic glass).
A necessary value-added chain quickly formed for appropriate realisation and the firm of Röhm Austria, with the mother firm of Evonik Röhm, became engaged as strategic partners already in the acquisition and planning phase.
For realisation of the project three Plexiglas blocks of 120 mm thick and six times 2.4 metres in length were cast by the firm of Röhm and formed and assembled by k-tec. The project partners, Evonik-Degussa, Röhm Austria, Zeiler k-tec and Schönbrunn Zoo, decided to make a small video document. Under the aegis of Evonik-Degussa (producer of acrylic glass with the brand name PLEXIGLAS) a short documentary has been made that you can see here.
But it would be much nicer to view these imposing panes personally and even more so the fascinating pond-size aquariums. Through the giant, curved panes one has an enchanting panoramic view into the up to 3.5 m-deep pond containing indigenous fish.
