“Biggest lizard on Earth” likely springs to mind when you see this Komodo Dragon Sculpture. It lives at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. This impressive sculpture is more than just a pretty face.
The Komodo Dragon Sculpture was created in 2007. Faducci Solomon Bassoff and Domenica Mottarella are the artists. It is made of steel concrete and glass. The Komodo Dragon is both educational and a play structure.
For years children have happily played on the Komodo Dragon. The sculpture has served the public well. It is adored by the children that visit the zoo.
Interestingly, the real Komodo dragons thrive in hot and humid climates. They are cold-blooded animals native to Indonesia. The Woodland Park Zoo wanted to ensure its Komodo dragons received the best possible care. The zoo retrofitted the Komodo dragon exhibit. They wanted to provide better insulation for the space.
The former glass roof was replaced with a solid roof. This would better seal in the heat and humidity. However this new roof would eliminate all the natural light. The design team used Solatube SkyVault devices. These devices bring natural daylight into the space.
The SkyVault Series delivers full-spectrum daylight. It maintains the vivid colors of the enclosures. It also keeps the Komodo dragon climate conditions sealed in tight. The zoo also intended to hide all lighting fixtures from the public. The Solatube Tubular Daylighting Devices were fit to the desired size. They were successfully hidden away from sight.
Kevin Murphy is the animal curator at the Woodland Park Zoo. He said the number one goal was to gain complete control over the environmental conditions. He added that animals react positively to a natural photoperiod. So they needed a design that would allow natural light. This design would also maintain sufficient insulation.
The new exhibit is now safer and more energy-efficient. It will keep the animals healthy and the Zoo’s guests happy.
So next time you visit the Komodo Dragon Sculpture. Remember it represents more than just a giant lizard. It represents conservation education and the joy of play.