新竹動物園為台灣最老的動物園，其豐富的歷史背景如同錨般的聯繫著動物園的初衷，如何在保有既有歷史紋理的同時，同時創造現代性的地景與這些紋理相呼應，這是一座交融一百年前的建築與一百年後的現代建築之動物園。本案重點在於如何重新探討都市與動物園的邊界，我們透過兩層的介面（X1、X2）去思考都市與動物園、人與動物之間的關係，本案透過兩種性質不同的介面去探討都市與動物園的關係，第一層介面（X1）即為一道將近百米的金屬網牆，劃分都市與動物園的界線，輕鋼構與金屬網的牆面劃分兩者，卻又同時透過金屬網的朦朧而隱約可見對方的世界；而第二層介面（X2）即為圓形廣場周圍的木樁牆，似乎像一個籠子般將人類圈養在其中並被動物所包圍，去探討人與動物之間的關係，到底是我們來看動物，抑或是我們才是被觀賞的一方。
一道九十米長由輕鋼構所構成的空間桁架並包覆金屬網，形成一道模糊的介面，區隔出都市與動物園的邊界，透過這層介面也隱約暗示著牆後動物園的世界；輕鋼構橫跨入口區的各式空間，也衍生出眾多結構型態的變形，作為動物園招牌就懸臂、作為動物園入口就延伸出雨遮，作為餐廳挑高就拉高讓光線進入，甚至是遇到既有樹木就退縮變窄，一道順應機能與自然而變形的有機金屬網牆，就是都市與動物園之介面X1。
都市的人們穿越第一層介面（X1）之後，經由空橋飛越動物園本身，並透過圓形的坡道緩緩於動物園的中心落地，而一根根的木樁卻劃分出人與動物的邊界，從空中往下看人類更像是被圈養起來的動物，透過這木樁的虛虛實實與坡道的高低變化，開始與動物的世界有了不同層次的關係，視覺的變化，偶爾動物的吼叫、氣味，間接感受到外在的環境。當要開始參觀動物園時，透過木樁牆兩側的大門，穿過大門後，地面材料也從透水混凝土轉換成橘紅色的大地色鋪面，這就進入到真正動物的世界了。
1. Hsinchu Zoo
What role does a modern zoo play in the urban landscape?
Hsinchu Zoo is the first zoo constructed in Taiwan and its rich history acts as an anchor which ties us to its origin. The new architecture is a compass pointing towards modern day values such as animal rights, respect of the natural environment and preservation of culture. This is a project which interweaves a hundred years of history with the next hundred years of modern architecture.
The co-existence of the city and the zoo begins from the interface between the two entities. The city encompasses the park, and takes up a corner of the zoo in the form of a sloped plaza. In between the plaza and the main entrance of the zoo is a double-layered mesh structure ninety meters in length and six meters in height. The structure functions as a boundary to separate the two entities, and is composed of wire mesh, a material which blurs the visual yet gives hint of the world beyond. The city takes the form of the circular plaza which extends past the blurred boundary into the heart of the zoo.
2. X1
Interface Between A & B = X1
Over 100 Meters of Wire Mesh
In between the plaza and the main entrance of the zoo is a double-layered mesh structure ninety meters in length and six meters in height. The structure functions as a boundary to separate the two entities, and is composed of wire mesh, a material which blurs the visual yet gives hint of the world beyond. The city takes the form of the circular plaza which extends past the blurred boundary into the heart of the zoo.
3. X2
Interface Between A & B = X2
Vertical Timber Fence as a Boundry Between Humans & Animals
The material boundary between the urban and the park transforms upon reaching the center. Evenly spaced wooden poles are used to define the plaza, separating the urban habitat of man and the natural landscape which encompasses the circle. The visually semi-impenetrable wooden poles of the plaza gives the illusion of being kept apart, but one is able to hear the roars and yelps of the animals and occasionally get a whiff of the odors of the zoo. Beyond the gray concrete slab within the human pen, the pavement within the zoo changes to an orange hue, a subtle indication of exiting the domain of man and entering the realm of the animals.