Gorilla house Brutalist heritage building dating from 1967
The old Hippo House is an iconic building at ARTIS Zoo. Nowadays, it is occupied by western lowland gorillas and other creatures, but the building remains a tangible reminder of the rich history behind ARTIS.
From Hippo House to Gorilla House: A Brutalist icon at ARTIS.
Old rice hulling mill
In 1866, ARTIS purchased a plot of land on which a rice hulling mill and its rice warehouse stood. The building ‘De Volharding’ was constructed on the foundations of the warehouse, and the rice mill was converted into Hippo House, with indoor and outdoor animal quarters.
A new Hippo House
The converted rice mill served as Hippo House for almost a century before falling into disrepair. New hippo quarters were built in the 1960s. Architect Mart Kamerling designed the building in the Brutalist style; a solid architecture that would suit its imposing inhabitants. Although Hippo House is not heritage listed, it is an important example of this architecture movement and a reflection of its time.
From past to present
- built in
- 1968
- designed by
- Mart Kamerling
- formerly inhabited by
- hippos, pygmy hippos, Malayan tapirs, South American tapirs, manatees
- now home to
- western lowland gorillas, Diana monkeys, meerkats, Aldabra giant tortoises, black pacu, zebrafish
Tapirs and manatees
The impressive building housed not only hippos, but also pygmy hippopotami, Malay and South American tapirs, and manatees. The reason for this was that the ARTIS director at the time, Ernst Jacobi (1908-1994), wished to keep as many different animal species as possible.
Hippos throughout the history of ARTIS
ARTIS welcomed its first hippos, Herman and Betsy, in 1860. This pair had long lives and produced many calves. Their first, Herman Jr., was the first hippo calf to be raised successfully in a zoo. Many hippos have since been born at ARTIS, including the famous Tanja, who was a beloved ARTIS resident many visitors will still remember.
