The oak slatted structure sits on the edge of a grassy slope in the Tower’s inner most ward - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Scheduled Ancient Monument.
According to the practice, the provision of a safe and comfortable habitat for the birds is ’of national importance as legend tells that the Kingdom will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower’.
Commissioned by the Historic Royal Palaces, the scheme is part of an on-going programme of improvements to the visitor experience at the Tower.
Practice co-founder Nicola Llowarch said: ’Ravens are highly intelligent birds. Unlike an aviary, the birds have free rein of the Tower during the day. Openings in the rear of the new enclosures allow the ravens free access to come and go. At night these are closed for the ravens’ own protection.
’Given their status as a top attraction, the ravens also needed to be highly visible. An important premise was that the birds should be seen against the backdrop of the historic setting, hence maintaining transparency through the enclosure was important.’
She added: ’We worked closely with the Ravenmaster, Tower of London and with specialist input from the Zoological Manager and Curator of Birds, ZSL London Zoo.
’It’s been fascinating. I now know some of the ravens by name, and their different habits and personalities – there is one that likes to play dead which is a little alarming!’
Text from Architects Journal
Architects LLowarch & LLowarch LLP