Top Auckland architects create designer dog kennels for charity

Article by Homes to Love

Snoopy might want to upgrade his iconic red kennel after seeing these designer dog homes

“Doggy Stylin'” by RTA Studio

Man’s best friend just landed himself some new digs. Twelve of Auckland’s top architects have swapped human houses for dog homes in a bid to take out Bark Haus’ designer kennel competition.

“If there are two things the people of Ponsonby are passionate about – apart from coffee – it’s their homes and their dogs,” BarkHaus creator John Williams says. “So why not bring the two together into a fun event, with the proceeds going to charity?”

“Chilli Dog” by Jessop Architects

Of the twelve designs, the top three as voted by the public will be built to full size. These will then be available for “doggy open homes” before being auctioned off at a gala charity event supporting Pet Refuge.

Needless to say, the competition has really caught the architect’s imaginations. From cabana-esque retreats to sculptural pieces to structures with a bar area attached (so man can relax with man’s best friend), these designer kennels are anything but ordinary.

For many, it was their own office dogs that provided the muse for these architectural pup retreats. DAA‘s pooch Shadow, “who is an integral member of the team,” is at the office every day says, Emma-Jane Hetherington. “So it was a given that we would participate.”

‘The Pup Tent’ by Dorrington Atcheson Architects

Their design, The Pup Tent, consists of an aluminium faceted form with a plywood base. Emma says, “no matter how much we love them, dogs are still a little dirty and stinky at times, so we wanted to ensure our design had good airflow and was easy to clean and maintain, it had to be practical as well as attractive to look at.”

Practicality and style were also high on Matter Architects’ list of qualities for their kennel.

‘Dog Box’ by Matter Architects

‘Dog Box‘, is sculptural and dynamic. Designed to be used from any orientation, its construction and materiality lend it to both indoor and outdoor use (be it a bench in the garden or a coffee table indoors).

Adam Locke from Matter Architects says, “pets occupy an important position in our lives, so we wanted to design a piece that encourages shared experience between the pet and the owner.”

Scroll down to see all the kennel designs, and click here to place your vote before the competition closes on October 7.

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Milieu Architects have designed a lounger for both canine and human relaxation. Inspired by Wilbur, their sweet office muse, who’s never one to miss a summer snooze, the 'Chien-Lounge' caters for indoor, outdoor and poolside drinks.

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Home of the Year 2019 winner Jack McKinney took inspiration from the 'Cocked Ear' shape of a Collie dog. A concrete base and end wall is formed, with cast-in bowls for food and water. The rest of the structure is corrugated iron riveted to a steel frame.

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Daniel Marshall Architects have designed "Casa Per Cangrande" - a garden day bed to share with your furry friend, a shelter from the rain for a daytime guard dog, an outdoor accessory that compliments an architecturally designed home.

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"Doggy Stylin'" by RTA Studio is derived from RTA Studio buildings, which reference traditional New Zealand and Pacific architecture. It's made up of two separate pieces; The inner den is designed to be removable so that you can take it indoors, or on holiday with you to your bach.

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'His Master's Voice', designed by Bull O’Sullivan Architects is inspired by Francis Barraud’s painting depicting a dog peering quizzically into a phonograph.

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Matter Architects' designed 'Dog Box' with versatility in mind. Intended for both owner and canine, this kennel connects the two through shared use.

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Lloyd Hartley Architects' design challenges the owner to show more love to their pooch. Stylishly designed and fitted with a bespoke bar area, this kennel will leave both human and dog in a relaxed and happy mood all afternoon.

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Jessop Architects' kennel is the place where all the dogs will want to hang out on a summer's day. Designed for their muse, Chilli (in the sunnies), the kennel has a distinct Palm Springs vibe (Chilli's favourite holiday spot). Her stripey paddling pool and matching lounger and pouffe finish off the outdoors area. Inside, her new home is warm with soft bedding, and there’s even an option for bluetooth sounds.

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'The Underdog' by RAD Workshop was inspired by the angular form and features of a wolf. They wanted to create an organic spatial experience for man’s best friend and at the same time reference its physical form. It even comes with a Snoopy-inspired sun terrace.

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Schwarz + Design have created 'Fur+nuture' - a line of pet focused furniture for the apartment dwelling inner city canine.

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DAA have created 'The Pup Tent'. The design is an aluminium faceted form with a plywood base. The interior is finished in autumnal colours, which creates a calming environment for the inhabitant. Apertures in the base hold removable food and water receptacles with adjacent space for a comfy bed.

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'Jofi’s Cave' by Rowe Baetens Architects traces the ontological beginnings of what it means to really be a dog, in tune with one’s true nature. Original pre-domesticated canines resided in a den, a Freudian space devoid of windows, planes or Cartesian geometry. This dog house is designed for indoor dogs, a truly introspective space for ‘the return’.

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