Architecture Unleashed: Designs for Dogs

Press Release September 17, 2020

Hiroshi Yoda

Beagle House Interactive Dog House by MVRDV for Beagle.

Japan House London will be the first destination in Europe to host the internationally acclaimed Architecture for Dogs exhibition, set to open to the public on Saturday, September 19. Architecture for Dogs features a collection of sixteen architectural designs for different dog breeds including the Beagle, Bichon Frise and Poodle. The exhibition will be available to visit at the Kensington High Street venue, as well as a through virtual experiences such as a 3D Tour, online talks and ‘live’ guided tours.

With our loyal, four-legged friends proving their value as comforting companions during lockdown more than ever, Architecture for Dogs offers guests a fun and insightful exploration into how it is possible for dogs and their human companions to be at their happiest through interaction with specially designed architectural pieces. The exhibition offers smaller dogs the opportunity to interact with a number of the designs, such as the Architecture For Long-Bodied Short-Legged Dogs designed by the world renowned architectural practice Atelier Bow-Wow.

Hiroshi Yoda

Wanmock by Torafu Architects for Jack Russell Terrier.

Other exhibits featuring in Architecture for Dogs include:

A new home for Snoopy? MVRDV presents a playful take on the dog house, with an interactive toy which is at the same time a stimulating environment for the intelligent Beagle breed to enjoy.

Who’s the prettiest of them all? With poodles known for loving their own reflection, Konstantin Grcic has created a fun mirror-led structure for pooches to gaze at themselves

Candy floss cocoon: inspired by the distinct fur of the Bichon Frise, Sejima Kazuyo has created a hideaway where dog and structure blend into one.

Hiroshi Yoda

D-Tunnel by Kenya Hara for Teacup Poodle.

Architecture for Dogs was created and directed by Hara Kenya, Nippon Design Center in conjunction with co-founder Imprint- featuring world-class architects and designers including Hara Kenya himself, Ban Shigeru, Kuma Kengo, Itō Toyō, Sou Fujimoto and Ma Yansong.

Japan House London will shortly be announcing a critically acclaimed UK-based architect, commissioned to create a new design, becoming the 16th exhibit in Architecture for Dogs. During the exhibition, a range of canine-related items from Japan can be found in The Shop at Japan House London.

The exhibition first launched at Design Miami in 2012 and has since received global acclaim touring in Japan [Tokyo, Gallery - MA], China [Shanghai, Himalayas Museum] and Brazil [Japan House São Paulo]. This exhibition at Japan House London will be the first time for it to be seen in Europe.

Japan House London was one of the first cultural institutions in the UK to re-open to the public on Thursday 9 July. Locals and Londoners are welcomed back to explore the Ground Floor, the first space to reopen in accordance with UK Government guidelines, with a newly introduced booking system and raft of safety measures in place.

Hiroshi Yoda

Paramount by Konstantin Grcic for Toy Poodle.

Hara Kenya, Chief Creative Advisor for the Japan House project and creator of Architecture for Dogs:

“We are delighted that, at the invitation of Japan House London, we are able to take this exhibition to London. While the architecture is ‘for dogs’, each of the contributors taking part in this unique project is a first class, world renowned architect. Please come and enjoy this cutting-edge architecture exhibition”.

Simon Wright, Director of Programming, Japan House London:

“This exhibition, featuring architecture specially designed for our canine best friends by a pantheon of stellar creative minds, is thoughtful, provocative and delightfully playful. Come and join us, and design with us.”

“Architecture for Dogs has always allowed us to see designers and architects as creative problem-solver, story-teller and even empathic futurists,” says Julia Y.C. Huang, CEO of Imprint, co-founder of Architecture for Dogs. “In its eighth year of inception, we cannot but think it has a special meaning for it to take place in 2020. In this time of uncertainty, I can be certain that a visit to Japan House London for this exhibition will bring smiles to your faces.”

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