Enchantingly placed within the South Australian landscape, Monarto Safari Park Visitor Centre exemplifies the innovative use of BlueScope steel walling and roofing to create breathtaking architecture. The centre’s design merges the Australian landscape with the essence of Zimbabwe’s Matobo Hills, offering visitors a portal to Africa.

Spanning 1500 hectares and home to more than 500 animals, Monarto Safari Park is one of the largest open-range zoos in the world. Its new visitor centre, sublimely capped with a roof made from COLORBOND® steel,seamlessly blends the landmark with the topography while embodying its core sustainable design principles.

The project’s design concept stemmed from the idea to juxtapose the Australian Mallee plains with Zimbabwe’s breathtaking National Parks. This is executed through the form and materials used throughout the site. The centre’s curved features are presented in varying yet complementary materials. The interlocking panel walling is a harmonious blend of earthy hues made from REDCOR® weathering steel and rammed earth, while the roofing, crafted from COLORBOND® steel in Shale Grey™, was chosen for its ability to deflect intense heat – an essential factor for the harsh climate of the Mallee plains.

Sustainability at the core of the project

Intro Architecture director Terry Boxall sought to design a building that would weather over time.

“Something in this landscape shouldn’t require treatment or maintenance,” he says.

Wall panelling made from REDCOR® weathering steel met this requirement perfectly, offering durability and a natural aesthetic that enhances with age.

When choosing a covering for the building’s majestically curved form, the architects quickly settled on COLORBOND^® steel roofing in Shale Grey™ and the profile Fielders FreeForm^® to technically realise its shape. The profile enabled the architects to form the complex arcs of the roof with minimal wastage and maximum efficiency. This tapered application required fewer flashings, ensuring water-tightness and reduced material usage. The sheets were also roll-formed on site in a transportable mill, enabling precise adjustments to fit the unique design.

Harmonising colour and climate

Incorporating COLORBOND® steel in the colour Shale Grey™ for the roofing was not just a stylistic choice but also an environmentally conscious one. The lighter colour absorbs less heat and reduces the need for artificial cooling. Additionally, the rainwater harvested from the roof is reused for plumbing and irrigation to nearby landscape. The material’s low maintenance requirements and durability make it an ideal choice for the harsh Australian environment.

Mossop Construction + Interiors project manager David Harris highlighted the cost-saving benefits of REDCOR® weathering steel.

“It was quite a significant cost saving. We were obviously trying to achieve the budget that the client had, and REDCOR^® weathering steel was one of the ways of doing it while still maintaining the look and feel that the architect was looking for,” Harris said.

The beating heart

The intersection of the building’s curves forms a central gathering space referred to as ‘the heart’, enhancing the symbolic representation of two worlds meeting. The space serves as a communal area for visitors to engage with the natural landscape. The combination of modern steel fabrication techniques and traditional materials such as rammed earth, creates a structure that is both innovative and grounded in its surrounding environment.

Beyond the visual and practical benefits of engaging COLORBOND® steel, it also supports the park’s conservation message. High-performance double-glazed windows, optimal environmental orientation and solar panels further enhance the site’s sustainability. The earth walls – framed by steel lintels – provide passive cooling and insulation which also contribute to the building’s efficiencies.

The design of the Monarto Safari Park Visitor Centre has garnered significant attention across social media, with the portal getaway standing as a recognisable landmark for global animal lovers and visitors alike. Architecture and studio gram have since been engaged to design a hotel on an adjacent site. 

Monarto Safari Park stands proud as a premier example of COLORBOND® steel’s versatility and functionality in creating durable and awe-inspiring architecture. The additional environmental benefits of the products have exceeded its design goals. With an enhanced visitor experience, the centre stands as a gateway to a unique and immersive experience.

Learn more about this innovative, boundary-pushing project, and discover what you can do with COLORBOND® steel, REDCOR® weathering steel and the BlueScope family of products in the latest edition of STEEL PROFILE®, brought to you by BlueScope.

COLORBOND®, REDCOR®, STEEL PROFILE®, BlueScope and the BlueScope brand mark are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited (ABN 16 000 011 058). TM colour names are trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited. All rights reserved.

Photography by David Sievers, Frankie the Creative and Brad Porter.

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