A Butterfly Park for Konya, Turkey
Penang Butterfly Farm has attracted numerous similar projects to be developed in the region. Some of them were consulted by our consultancy division which focuses on farming, museum and butterfly park development. While our entomological consultancy work is active in the UAE, we have begin providing such services to Europe.
This year, our butterfly consulting team has been awarded a tender for developing a butterfly park and insect museum within an artificial butterfly valley in Konya, Turkey. We have been awarded the architectural and design development for the entire park building project which is temperature controlled to allow for exhibiting free-flying butterflies in four different seasons. The ecological design and concept which was developed by our chief architect focuses on creating a habitat suitable for tropical butterflies to thrive within amongst a tropical forest setting. Such a concept is rare to be found in Europe, and therefore it was proposed to provide a unique experience for the local community of Selcuklu town in Konya as well as tourists and passer-by from around the region. The butterfly valley itself is soon to be enriched with entomological plants to attract a variety of insects including butterflies.
Konya province is famous for its green summer parks and historical Mevlana museum, and soon the experience of butterflies and insects can provide and even deeper meaningful experience for the community, knowing that butterflies are part of their religious concept. Besides beings surrounded by tropical butterflies in the enclosed tropical landscaped garden, the insect museum serves to educate the public further through its cinema, multimedia presentations, digital learning displays and three-dimensional modern entomological-scientific museum concept. Its walkways are covered with artistic collections of past relics and craftwork of local butterfly enthusiasts. Their education hall provides further learning syllabus for schools that which to adopt more practical approach for learning about nature. Such that the young children’s mind can absorb easily the topics of sustaining Mother Nature and raising young activists to carry out practical butterfly conservation into our modern world someday.
Turkey seems to have the highest variety of butterfly species compared to all other countries in Europe and such advantage is being taken seriously by the Selcuklu Municipality in Konya. This first ever butterfly park and insect museum in Turkey offers possible scientific collaborations with entomologists and lepidopterists in Turkey as well as from Europe. The commitment given by the government shows a modern-sustainable and responsible Turkish mindset and era that understands ecological consequences of modern development and we are proud of such commitments by their government towards their people.
Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden is developed by Butterfly House Consultancy (M) Sdn Bhd and the municipality is currently undergoing preparations and planning for the construction phase. ARUP, a leading architect firm in Turkey and Red Dot Design from Malaysia has been contracted by Butterfly House Consultancy (M) Sdn Bhd to assist on this project. By 2013, Turkey and its people will have its first ever tropical butterfly park and insect museum!
Posted in Latest News