Zoo Brno has prepared a unique exhibition of student works in cooperation with the Institute of Architecture of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Brno University of Technology, presenting designs for a new exposition of polar bears in the Brno Zoo. At the exhibition, visitors will see the most interesting projects, including 3D models, and learn interesting facts about the situation of polar bears in the wild and the extraordinary breeding of five cubs in Brno.

The existing polar bear exhibit at the Brno Zoo will undergo reconstruction and substantial enlargement this year. In the future, however, a completely new exposition could be created. Thanks to the cooperation between Zoo Brno and the Institute of Architecture FAST BUT, students could try out their future profession in practice. As part of their studies, they created several interesting architectural designs of what a modern polar bear exhibit could look like according to current standards.

"Zoos are not just places for public recreation. They are also centres for nature and planet conservation and places for education. This is one of the reasons why the idea of involving architecture students in the conceptual plans of Zoo Brno was conceived. Thanks to this cooperation, a large number of student works have been created for many years, which try to offer possibilities of development, modernization and improvement of exhibition spaces in the zoo with regard to energy efficiency, good water management, the requirements of the animals kept and current trends in zoos," said Radana Dungelová, director of the Brno Zoo.

"The cooperation between our institutions is very mutually beneficial. The Zoo gets its hands on novel designs by a young generation of students, which may not even occur to ordinary design offices, and which can become the basis for its development. On the contrary, it is a great opportunity for students to participate in the creation for a real client with all the details of future practice," said Viktor Svojanovský from Brno University of Technology.

The exhibition of the most interesting student works, including 3D models, can be viewed from 20 February to 28 March in the Urban Centre at Brno's Old Town Hall. Visitors will also learn about the current situation of polar bears in the wild, their endangerment and rescue, and how the public can contribute to the return of polar bear breeding to the Brno Zoo. The exhibition will also include a thematic programme, during which lectures with interesting personalities will take place every Thursday. Guests will include, for example, the traveller, photographer and polar bear observer Štefan Kardoš or Jaroslav Jasínek from the Brno Zoo.

The polar bear is an iconic animal of the Brno Zoo. It is the only zoo in Europe to have naturally reared five cubs in the past. In the future, it plans to build on this success and continue to contribute to the global rescue programme for these critically endangered species. In order for the polar bear to survive in the wild, it is necessary, among other things, to create a sufficiently strong population of the animals in zoos.