Architecture for Dogs, A Project Created for Man's Best Friend

A heartfelt project that uses the concepts of high-end design to make both dogs and their humans happy.

Established by a group of talented architects and designers, Architecture for Dogs is an innovative project that employs the concepts of high-end design to create a variety of products for man’s best friend. The group comprises renowned and visionary figures, including Kenya Hara, Shigeru Ban, Giulio Iacchetti, Hiroshi Naiyo, Kazuyo Sejima, Reiser+Umemoto, and Piero Lissoni, to name a few. Their designs reimagine standard accessories and essentials for dogs as beautifully designed products that not only provide a balanced blend of function and style, but also improve the daily lives of the canines.

Architecture for Dogs, A Project Created for Man's Best Friend - Gessato

Giulio Iacchetti

Featuring a range of products, the collection comprises dog beds and carriers as well as larger installations that encourage play. The project makes these stylish products accessible to everyone thanks to open source files. On the official website, dog lovers from all over the world can view informative videos and download the drawings and instructions for every design. This way, anyone can build the Architecture for Dogs products at home for their pets.

Architecture for Dogs introduced the first 13 designs in 2012, at Design Miami. The show presented a variety of concepts, each created for a specific dog breed but perfect for any dog of a similar size. That inaugural exhibition was followed by shows at the Long Beach Museum of Art, the Tokyo TOTO Gallery・Ma, and Japan House London, among others. With every exhibition, the collection grew with new designs, from comfy beds to multifunctional furniture.

Piero Lissoni

At the end of 2024, Architecture for Dogs launched a new exhibition for the first time in Italy, at the ADI Design Museum in Milan. Along with other charming products, the Dog Pavilion by Giulio Iacchetti stands out with a fun twist on the cave bed archetype. Created with the Italian Greyhound in mind, the playful design draws inspiration from an unusual place, Piero della Francesca’s frescoes on the walls of the church of San Francesco in Arezzo, Italy. More specifically, from the sumptuous field tent of Emperor Constantine. Envisioned as a stylish pagoda, the pavilion features a circular silhouette topped with a red flag. Wood panels placed at an angle create a dynamic pattern while enhancing the design with natural colors and textures.

Lightweight but sturdy, the structure provides protection against the cold and drafts. Meanwhile, a plush velvet cushion ensures maximum comfort. To produce this design, Giulio Iacchetti collaborated with Milan-based, solid wood furniture manufacturer Riva 1920. Similarly to other Architecture for Dogs designs, the Dog Pavilion is open source. Posted on the official website, this dog bed comes with free drawings and instructions, allowing animal lovers to build their own pavilions and even adapt them to their dogs’ needs.

Curated by Kenya Hara, artistic director of Muji, the new Architecture for Dogs show features works from famous architects and designers, including Kengo Kuma and Sou Fujimoto. The exhibition opened its doors to visitors at the ADI Design Museum in Milan on the 3rd of December. You can drop by to admire the dog-centric designs in person until the 16th of February, 2025. Images courtesy of Giulio Iacchetti.