The artwork for the San Francisco Zoo is an earthwork that takes shape as a tripartite, roughly circular mound. Physically, the earthwork is situated between two other circular forms at the Zoo site; the historic Victorian-style carousel and the contemporary Leaping Lemur Cafe. The mound is a visual and physical link that serves to emphasize the human qualities of the area. The mound sections carry three separate micro-environments that echo material vocabularies used in the zoo. These include hardscape elements and planting characteristic of the coastal landscape, sub-tropical and semi-arid planting schemes. The interior faces of the mound are orchestrated with physical, visual and intellectual elements to provoke thoughts concerning the relationship between humans and animals throughout time. The organizing principle for the internal elements of Split Mound is based on a quote found within the mound. 

“In the relation of man with the animals there is a great ethic that tell at length break forth into light.”

– Victor Hugo

Elements within Split Mound include a “Zooetta Stone” written in animal code, a stone map of “Pangea”, stainless steel reflective surfaces, viewing tubes, bronze frogs and porcelain photographs of historic exploratory ships. Both the artworks and the modern zoo, in continual states of development, reflect the ethic that has been evolving since “Pangea”; before politics, economies, policies and territoriality that characterize the modern age.