17 November 2012

Architecture for Dogs

Kenya Hara launches a collection of architectural structures for dogs designed by the likes of Kazuyo Sejima, Konstantin Grcic, and Atelier Bow-Wow.

Why should your best friend have a generic house when you don’t? Architecture for Dogs has the mission of bringing a new kind of joy to the relationship between dogs and humans. Simultaneously, it celebrates the vision of a number of today’s important creative minds.

'Architecture for Long-bodied-short-legged Dog' by Atelier Bow-Wow for the dachshund smooth

Just launched with a dedicated website, the project was founded by Kenya Hara (Creative Director of MUJI) in collaboration with Imprint Venture Lab. It is both a company and a multi-tiered strategy that promotes breed-specific structures for canines designed by an international roster of renowned architects and designers.

Architecture for Dogs

'Architecture for the Bichon Frise' by Kazuyo Sejima for the bichon frise

From the blueprints for 'Architecture for the Bichon Frise'

The Architecture for Dogs website offers freely downloadable ‘blueprints’ that provide guidance on how to make 13 different architectural structures. It also features videos and descriptions of each design and its author, as well as the opportunity for users to upload photos of their own versions of each structure.

Architecture for Dogs

'Pointed-T' by Hara Design Institute/Haruka Misawa for the Japanese terrier

The structures have been designed by Kenya Hara (teacup poodle), Atelier Bow-Wow (dachshund smooth), Shigeru Ban (papillon), Sou Fujimoto (Boston terrier), Konstantin Grcic (toy poodle), Hara Design Institute/Haruka Misawa (Japanese terrier), Toyo Ito (shiba), Kengo Kuma (pug), MVRDV (beagle), Hiroshi Naito (spitz), Reiser＋Umemoto (chihuahua), Kazuyo Sejima (bichon frise), and Torafu Architects (Jack Russell terrier).

Architecture for Dogs

'No Dog, No Life!' by Sou Fujimoto for the Boston terrier

Architecture for Dogs

'Papier Papillon' by Shigeru Ban for the papillon

Many components make up the project. Aside form the online presence, a physical exhibition has been planned for 5–9 December in the Miami Design District as part of Design Miami 2012. Next year, flat-packed versions of each design will be introduced for retail at architecturefordogs.com and in stores around the globe. October 2013 will see the publication of a book on the project (written by Kenya Hara), as well as a final exhibition at Tokyo's Toto Gallery.

Architecture for Dogs

'Chihuahua Cloud' by Reiser＋Umemoto for the chihuahua

'Beagle House Interactive Dog House' by MVRDV for the beagle

"When we first began discussing the Architecture for Dogs concept with Kenya Hara, we were immediately intrigued," says Julia Y.C. Huang, founder and CEO of Imprint Venture Lab, the business incubator behind Architecture for Dogs.

She continues, "We of course have a great deal of respect for Hara's work with MUJI as well as his academic and curatorial work, but the multi-pronged approach we were able to develop in conjunction with him – as well as the incredible roster of talent he brought on board – allowed us to help develop this concept into a start-up that's unlike any we've ever seen."

Architecture for Dogs