The access plaza to the park, a welcoming space for the public and the backbone of the different leisure proposals, will incorporate an iconic sculptural element 11 meters long and 8 meters high.
The BIOPARC Exterior Plaza is in the process of being remodeled with the aim of becoming, in addition to a space to welcome the public and the backbone of the different leisure proposals, a unforgettable sight for visitors and in Valencia city icon.
For some time now, this free-access plaza has become Citizen meeting point for solidarity, cultural or recreational-training events. The Solidarity Races, the parades to adopt abandoned dogs, concerts or the Poblado de las Jaimas at Christmas time, are some of the proposals that have brought together thousands of people. But it is also and will be a welcome point for a wide range of leisure activities that distinguishes and will increasingly differentiate our city as a proposal for a new type of leisure.
The majestic 15-ton elephant.
The concept of the reception, attraction and memorability has been in the background in the design of the plaza project carried out by Rain Forest Design and it will have elements that will be iconic and emblematic for Valencia. Perhaps the most striking of them is a majestic 15 ton elephant made of steel, wood and other materials that will have dimensions of 11 meters long and 8 meters high.
The sculpture is made of 3 mm Corten steel combined with iroko wood.. The body It is composed of 8 sections which are assembled to form the body with pieces from 2,40mx3,20m to 1,70mx3m. The cabeza It's formed by 6 sections made of tubular steel structures, the ears are made of wicker and have a dimension of 4mx3,20 m. The fangs and ribs that will allow you to see through the sculpture of the animal, that is, contemplate its interior, are made of carved wood that has been specially selected to guarantee its traceability and sustainability.
At this time, the work is being carried out in two areas: the construction of the elephant and the preparation of the access plaza to accommodate said structure, since the entire element will be supported on 6 pillars of the parking lot. The 4 support points of the elephant, anchored in a 25cm reinforced concrete slab. thick, are the 4 legs that have dimensions of 2m high and 80cm in diameter, which will endure all the skeleton whose size will be from 2,60mx 2,20m to 1,70mx 1,60m. Today we can see the work area of the square protected by a metal fence where work is being done on this conditioning.
Once the structural part is finished, the complete body of the elephant will be transported in a special transport due to its complexity and due to the magnitude of the volume, anchoring it to the legs and then placing the head. The forecast is that the imposing sculpture will be completed towards the end of March. The design of the square will be completed, in a second phase, by a forest of acacia trees made of metal and rattan.
The choice of the elephant to welcome thousands of Valencians and tourists has been based on the fact that it is thelargest terrestrial animal that exists on Earth and represents an emblem in the fight for the conservation of biodiversity. In addition, there is a historical reference that Hannibal's Carthaginian army, with its elephants, camped next to the Turia, near the current Sagunto street.
This performance is part of the 10th Anniversary celebration.
On the occasion of the 10 º aniversario, this week at BIOPARC Valencia we have launched a initiative “with a cause”, to involve the entire society, because through the BIOPARC Foundation funds will be allocated to save bats, the most emblematic species for Valencians. During this month of February, two promotions have been launched with a very special price: €18+1 entry on weekends and from the 26th to the 28th and the annual pass B! at 38+1€, to enjoy all year round.
