In 1934, London Zoo (the Regent's Park zoo in London) unveiled its famous spiral-ramped "Penguin Pool," designed by Tecton, an influential architectural firm led by Russian emigre Berthold Lubetkin. Tecton's innovative Modernist design was unusually elegant and playful and one of the first uses of reinforced concrete.

During a refurbishment in 2004, the penguin colony was temporarily relocated to one of the zoo's duck ponds and took such a strong liking to their new habitat that it was decided that they would remain there.