Modern Vivarium

Develop a new vivarium design that balances aesthetics and care.

Problem Statement

How can a healthy living environment also be decorative?

Many people spend a lot of money on their
pets. Most of the time, while the environment
is healthy for the animal, the shelter itself is
an eyesore and a blight on the owner’s room.

Design an enriching, healthy living space
for the animal that also looks elegant in
the room of the owner.

Focusing on one species of lizard helps determine the
specific type of environment that needs to be replicated.

Crested geckos are arboreal, active, and need lots of
vertical space for climbing.

A minimum 20-gallon
terrarium is sufficient for
an adult crested gecko.

Crested geckos need a moderate humidity level and a temperature
gradient of 72 F to 80 F during the day and 65 F to 75 F at night.

Research

Asking gecko owners:
What are important features in a vivarium?

Aesthetics

Mesh Framing

Place to put food

Stimulated Ecosystem

Inspiration

Inspiration is taken from the gecko's natural habitat in New Caledonia and the magnificent cultural centers located there.

Ideation

Vivarium Ideation

Hut Ideation

Technology Inside the Hut

Storyboard

When the temperature is too cold, the sensor will activate the heating pad.

Lizard senses heat
and climbs to the hut
to get warm.

When the temperature
reaches optimum heat
it turns off as to not
overheat the area.

Gecko soaks up enough
heat then leaves the hut
and roams around the
rest of the vivarium.

CAD Models

Fusion models were used in order to experiment with proportions.

Vent for air flow

Slanted glass roof

Double doors for

easier access

Heating pad underneath hut

Prototype Making

A cardboard model was used to visualize the size and dimensions.

Uno board was programed to heat to a specific
temperature and when
that temperature was
reached to turn off.

Construction

Thin, strong wood was used in order to keep the vivarium light. Glass was used for most of the structure to allow light through for the plants inside. Polyurethane was used to treat the wood to make it water resistant.