Center of Protected Croatian Fauna and Bear Habitat

The Center of Protected Fauna of Croatia is located in the urban green fabric area of Zagreb, within the Zoo section of Maksimir Park, adjacent to the channel of the great Maksimir lake. A concave polyvalent structure has risen on the site of the former unsightly building known as the “birdhouse for swamps”. This once dark, burnt wooden structure now serves as an inviting space for visitors and passersby, seamlessly blending the interior and exterior. Leading curious individuals through its passageways, it offers an unexpected view. A new experience awaits on the terrace, providing a panoramic vista of the revitalized canal’s deep water and the expansive new habitat of the brown bear, complete with trees, rocks, a waterfall, and a pond, nestled in the green heart of the city.

The visually captivating landscape leaves a lasting impression on observers, drawing them further along a new bridge over the canal, designed in a fluid and adaptable form, seamlessly connecting to the opposite shore. Here, one can pause and contemplate the northern expanse of the project, meticulously restored to its historical century-old aesthetic and function, reminiscent of a time when ladies of the 19th century strolled with parasols.

To the north and west lie areas dedicated to people and urban development, while the south is dominated by the Zoo’s most powerful inhabitant, the bear.