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Culture | San José | 2025 | Area: 2 Ha.
Re-signifying what was inherited
Since the closure of the Simón Bolívar Zoo, finding a new use for this underutilized space has become both a challenge and an opportunity.
Roots of the Past Begin to Bloom
For decades, it operated under the logic of confinement: nature as spectacle, today, that past becomes the raw material for a new urban narrative.
The park’s natural exuberance opens itself to public enjoyment; the former cages and administrative buildings are reimagined as living classrooms, open plazas, and renewed infrastructure that invite encounter, learning, and cultural expression.
In this way, a new connection between nature, the city, and culture emerges, linking the park to a broader network of public and cultural spaces in the heart of San José
Costa Rica is projected to the world as a green paradise, yet within its cities there are still many opportunities for nature to take on a leading role in the urban landscape.
For this reason, this project is a declaration of the transformative potential of the PANU Simón Bolívar: to reimagine what already exists and adapt it toward a more prosperous future for our cities and those who inhabit them.
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