The Architecture for Dogs exhibition has landed at the ADI Design Museum in Milan, presenting a delightful yet profound examination of design specifically for our furry friends. Opening today (3 December 2024), the exhibition features innovative doghouses crafted by esteemed architects and designers, such as MVRDV, Kengo Kuma, Konstantin Grcic, Asif Khan, Shigeru Ban, and Sou Fujimoto.
Forget conventional kennels – this exhibition breaks the mold of architectural form and function, showcasing everything from ramps and cushions to designs that offer cooler spaces for thicker-coated breeds during warm weather, and a vertical kennel that elevates dogs to human eye level. Following its 2020 London debut, this is only the second European edition, and it includes two new Italian designs by Piero Lissoni and Giulio Iacchetti.
Accompanying the doghouses are photographs and video installations that delve into the deeper relationship between architecture and our four-legged companions. The exhibition prompts viewers to consider how architecture can extend beyond its usual human focus to create a shared language that strengthens the bond between humans and animals. In an age dominated by anthropocentrism, Architecture for Dogs shifts the paradigm, positioning pets as active participants rather than passive inhabitants. This project redefines 'pet-tecture' – designs tailored to the specific needs of pets – encouraging a reevaluation of shared living spaces and challenging traditional architecture by exploring the human-animal relationship in a fresh, artistic context.
The exhibition also reflects a growing societal trend, particularly in Italy, where approximately 15 million pet dogs reside and one in two people in Milan own a pet. Beyond architecture, the exhibition ventures into fashion and textiles. In collaboration with Poldo Dog Couture, Giorgio Armani has designed a capsule collection for dogs, blending luxury with practicality. Inspired by the exhibition? The blueprints and instructions for the designs are available for free online.
Architecture for Dogs will be on display at the ADI Design Museum from 3 December 2024 to 16 February 2025.
Source link: https://www.euronews.com
