Nassal completed shop fabrication drawings, as well as the rockwork fabrication. The end result was a realistic-looking exhibit that provided both a comfortable living environment for the animals, and a satisfying authentic experience for the zoo’s visitors. Using photographs of Asia’s various regions as a reference, Nassal’s rockwork craftsmen sculpted intricately detailed trees, boulders, rock formations, habitat elements, retaining walls, termite mounds, ponds, rock outcroppings, mud banks, cliffs, a moat system, and a 19’ tall waterfall. A variety of design elements were incorporated into the fabricated rockwork to encourage animal interaction. In addition, Nassal carved shotcrete facades on the animal holding facilities and visitor viewing structures, and replicated ancient Asian architecture including a Cambodian temple and a Russian highland viewing shelter to resemble stacked stone and hand-carved brick. Another spectacular feature is a 17’-tall rockwork replica of a tiger sculpture in a ruin that serves as the entry portal. The project involved more than 300 cubic yards of themed concrete and 82,500 square feet of shotcrete.
Asia Quest invites park visitors to embark on an adventure across the largest continent in the world; to explore diverse habitats, discover ancient cultures, and search for some of the most endangered and magnificent animals in the world. It begins in Southeast Asia, and then meanders back across the Himalayas to the harsh Amur River valley of eastern Russia.