THE CONSERVATION OF TECTON BUILDINGS AT DUDLEY ZOO, WEST MIDLANDS
Stuart Tappin and David Platts
The 12 listed Lubetkin-designed concrete structures at Dudley Zoo, built between 1936 and 1937, are the greatest collection of surviving Tecton buildings in the world and some of the most important modern movement buildings in the UK. As time has moved on and zoological practices have changed some of the Tecton structures have become unused and left to serve only as monuments. The lack of use has led to poor upkeep and deterioration. All were in a poor condition, mainly due to corrosion of the reinforcement, with works to enhance the structure required in a few locations.
Four of the structures have recently been repaired with help of the Heritage Lottery Fund. A conservation-based approach was adopted, with traditional concrete used for the majority of the repairs and carbon fibre added locally to stiffen a large cantilevered viewing platform. The repair of the structures was the first part of the conservation work and was followed by the reinterpretation of the structures to provide a programme which would sustain their future use. An area of the Bear Ravine is being used for long term testing by Historic England to monitor the performance of the different methods of repair.
- Dudley Zoo Monitoring Report - August 2022
Long Term Monitoring of Like-for-Like Repairs – Assessment in 2022
- Dudley Zoo Monitoring Report - December 2020
2020 Monitoring Report on the Repaired Tectons at Dudley Zoo.
- Conservation of Tecton Buildings at Dudley Zoo (Stuart Tappin & David Platts) (17 pages)
A conservation-based approach was adopted for the majority of the repairs and carbon fibre added locally to stiffen a large cantilevered viewing platform.
- Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Repair works at Dudley Zoo (Stuart Tappin) (11 pages)
Report setting out the approach to the restoration project from the Structural Engineer
- Maintenance Plan for Station Cafe, Entrance, Bear Ravine and Kiosk
Sets of the cleaning and inspection regime for the four Tecton structures restored in 2014/15.
- Rowan Technologies Report July 2018
Monitoring Report
- Rowan Technologies Report November 2017
Monitoring Report
- Rowan Technologies Report October 2016
Monitoring Report
- Structural Engineers Report
Report produced by structural engineer to discuss the structural proposals for the project.
- Rowan Technologies report August 2011
Initial report carried out to identify the existing condition and strength of the concrete within the Tecton structures
- Philips Lighting
Consultation for the lighting of various buildings, statues and structures as part of the wider Dudley Town Centre Regeneration initiative.
- Crick Smith tecton paint survey report
Paint analysis of the buildings to discover the original colours.
- Entrance site works photographic record
Complete photographic record of work carried out on site, from inception to completion.
- Station Cafe site works photographic record
Complete photographic record of work carried out on site, from inception to completion.
- Conservation Management Plan
This document discusses the historic significance of Dudley Zoo and castle and discussed the effect the HLF project would have on this historic site.
- Concrete Repair Specs
This document was prepared by Stand engineers to outline the specifications of the concrete repair process
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS (S.P.A.B) MAGAZINE
A feature on the repairs to the concrete structures of Dudley Zoo featured in the Summer 2017 edition of the S.P.A.B magazine. You can read the feature by clicking front page of the magazine OR HERE>
ICOMOS ISC20 AGM & CONCRETE CONSERVATION CONFERENCE
O
n the 12th October 2016 Dudley Zoo hosted the ICOMOS ISC20 AGM and on the 13th October 2016 a Concrete Conservation Conference for interested parties and professionals.
Dudley Zoo Conservation Conference included presentations based on the area of expertise the speaker had brought to the restoration project and one practical display.
Jon Wright: To give an introduction to Lubetkin and his ideas on design
Chris Wood: To talk about Historic England’s work on 20th century concrete
Stuart Tappin: To talk about the repairs at Dudley
David Farrell: To talk about the research and monitoring
David Platts: To deal with issues like cleaning and painting
Carlo Diponio: Practical display of concrete repair undertaken at the Bear Ravine