Over the past years, we’ve seen dogs play a bigger part in their humans’ lifestyle. They’re no longer just pets but are already part of families, with their owners calling themselves fur parents. We’ve also seen more products in the market for them and not all of them are merely functional. A lot of thought has gone into the designs for some of these products, including dog houses.
Designer: Kenya Hara (curator)
The Architecture for Dogs exhibition is one such proof of the importance that we’re giving to our canine friends. Their latest stop is at Milan’s ADI Design Museum where they show off various ramps, cushions, mats, benches, and of course kennels and shelters that were designed specifically for certain breeds to strengthen their bonds with their humans. These designs are also available to download for free so that users can build their own versions of these architectures and adapt them to their dogs’ needs.
The pieces in the exhibit are pretty interesting and unique. The Cloud was cerated by Reiser + Umemoto as a second skin for a chihuahua to protect the dog from the cold as well as general protection for its bones. It actually looks like a dress but is designed as a “climatic buffer”. Konstantin Grcic designed a bed for a toy poodle that has a mirror since owners have said their pets respond to mirrors. There is also a sustainable aspect to some of the designs, like Shigeru Ban’s maze and bed for a papillon or continental toy spaniel since it’s made from connected cardboard tubes.
Since it’s the exhibit’s Italian debut, two contributions from local designers were also added. Giulio Iaccheti created a round, plywood-panelled kennel specifically for an Italian greyhound, looking like a tent complete with a red velvet cushion and with a small scarlet flag on top of its house. Piero Lissoni meanwhile crafted a plywood and aluminum kennel for a Yorkiepoo, inspired by of all things, an airport hangar.
