Kengo Kuma and Shigeru Ban design kennels for Architecture for Dogs exhibition in Milan

Architects and designers including Kengo Kuma, Konstantin Grcic and Shigeru Ban have unveiled doghouses and other pet-centric designs at the Architecture for Dogs exhibition at the ADI Design Museum in Italy.

Curated by Kenya Hara, the artistic director of Japanese design brand Muji, Architecture for Dogs presents a range of structures designed to meet the specific needs of different breeds while fostering deeper engagement between dogs and their owners.

A number of well-known architects and designers contributed to the show. Kuma designed a hill-like structure made of geometric shapes for a pug to climb on or sit beneath, while Grcic's design for toy poodles features an illuminated mirror with a pedestal.

Ban, meanwhile, created a maze-like playspace for papillons, crafted from cardboard in his signature undulating curves.

The exhibition also features contributions by Italian designers Giulio Iacchetti and Piero Lissoni in collaboration with sustainable design brand Riva 1920.

Designing for Italian greyhounds, Iacchetti made a wooden igloo-like dog house, while Lissoni's kennel for yorkiepoos has a tubular design.

Fashion brand Giorgio Armani, together with pet clothing brand Poldo Dog Couture, is showing a dog-focused capsule collection that merges the fashion house's style with more practical pet-focused designs.

Architecture for Dogs aims to challenge traditional ideas of pet spaces and investigate new modes of interaction between dogs and their owners, "exploring how architecture and design can serve as a language shared by all living species," Hara said.

Each design was tailored to a specific dog breed, with structures including ramps, cushions, rugs and benches. For example, a vertical doghouse showcased allows a dog to look at its owner at eye level, creating higher engagement between pet and owner.

The exhibition layout, described as a fluid system of display islands, was designed by Hara and Hara Design Institute.

Dog owners from around the world can download the blueprints and instructions for all the designs from the Architecture for Dogs website.

The aim was that this would let them recreate the structures and customise or adapt them to their own dog's needs.

This participatory approach aims to foster an inclusive design community and encourages visitors to engage directly with the exhibition.

The ADI Design Museum, one of the few museums in Italy that allows dogs in its exhibition spaces, offers a welcoming environment for both humans and their pets, according to ADI president Luciano Galimberti.

"The ADI Design Museum seeks to position itself as a hub of research and dialogue embracing all dimensions of contemporary life, both human and, in this case, animal," Galimberti said.

"It is one of the few museums in Milan and across Italy that allows access to dogs in its exhibition spaces, making shared experiences between people and animals possible in an open and welcoming cultural environment."

Architecture for Dogs was first presented at Design Miami in 2012. This is its second European edition, following a 2020 showcase in London.

Also taking part are Asif Khan, Atelier Bow-Wow, FGMF, Hiroshi Naito, Kazuyo Sejima, Ma Yansong, MVRDV, Reiser + Umemoto, Sou Fujimoto, Torafu Architects and Toyo Ito.

Other dog-centric designs that have recently been featured on Dezeen include a walking aid for elderly dogs and a range of canine products designed in colours visible to dogs.

The photography is by Hiroshi Yoda.

Architecture for Dogs is on display from 3 December 2024 to 16 February 2025 at the ADI Museum. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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