Gondwanaland, the ancient continent which broke up over 150 million years ago was a paradise, populated by giant trees, flowers and exotic birds, and now constitutes our southern hemisphere.

The Leipzig Zoo has taken nature in its most primitive form to a new dimension on a 16.500 m² site to create a unique architectural structure, which not only provides an amazing experience for visitors to the Zoo but which is also an evolution in design. Vector Foiltec, the world market leader for intelligent architecture using high-performance Texlon^® ETFE foil cushions, played a key role in the successful development of this revolutionary self-supporting structure at Leipzig Zoo.

A flourishing paradise is protected by the gigantic self-supporting steelwork structure clad with transparent Texlon^® ETFE cushions to create the ultimate climatic envelope. The tropical biosphere opened to the public in July 2011 - an event of national significance after 11 years of planning and four years of construction. As Europe’s largest tropical hall, Gondwanaland, is a milestone in the history of zoological buildings.