Dudley Zoo may be described as essentially an open air zoo and, with the exception of the tropical birdhouse and the elephant house, shows only animals which can be kept in England without resort to complicated houses and heating systems. In choosing the type of architecture to fulfil both the aesthetic and practical needs of the Dudley site, there were two options:

the naturalistic approach - that in which animals are shown and kept in imitations of their natural surroundings

the entirely modern, more hygienic system, which may for want of a better term, be called the 'theatrical' method, in which the animals are staged in an entirely artificial manner

After careful consideration, it was decided that the latter would be most suitable at Dudley, and in general it has been adopted in the various enclosures and installations which have been erected.

This modern approach has also been made in the case of the entrance gates, restaurants and the kiosks, as it was felt that it would be better to introduce something frankly modern rather than attempt to imitate the existing mediaeval structure.

Lubetkin and Tecton have carried out their work so successfully that although their designs, method of construction and material are extremely modern, they in no way offend the eye, neither do they at any point make an unpleasing contrast with the ruins of the castle.