Architecture for Dogs

From January 19 to April 7, 2019, JAPAN HOUSE São Paulo presents a new line in architecture and design by means of the exhibit Architecture for Dogs, which is curated by Japanese designer Kenya Hara and developed by investment and consulting company Imprint Venture Lab. Through the work of renowned professionals in their fields, the exhibit presents irreverent and conceptual dog houses in a pioneering exercise of scale that considers society’s current relations with its pets. After exhibiting in the United States, Japan, and China, this is the first exhibit in Brazil and it features an unprecedented project by a Brazilian office at the invitation of JAPAN HOUSE São Paulo.

Architecture for Dogs explores an original way of thinking about architecture, creating houses with refined aesthetics for dogs of the most diverse breeds. Presented by architects and designers from different parts of the world, the 15 house designs on display at the exhibit are inspired by the different breeds’ specificities and signed by names of the likes of Kenya Hara, Kazuyo Sejima, Sou Fujimoto, and Kengo Kuma, among others.

An important project within the initiative is “O Casulo” (The Cocoon), an unprecedented work by the Brazilian firm FGMF Arquitetos which, from this exhibit in São Paulo, will be part of the Architecture for Dogs circuit representing Brazil. FGMF is a partner of the architect Kengo Kuma in the architectural design of JAPAN HOUSE São Paulo.

Occupying the entire cultural center, projects of the most varied shapes and built using many types of materials and construction techniques portray the inspiration and challenges of thinking about projects on a new scale, in addition to portraying the relationship of affection and the increasing importance of these animals in contemporary life, a fact that also represents changes in society’s habits.

JAPAN HOUSE São Paulo will put three of these projects in the external area of the ground floor, making them available for experimentation by dogs: Mount Pug (Kengo Kuma), Architecture for Long-bodied-short-legged Dog (Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Momoyo Kajiima), and Beagle House (MVRDV). An established rule is that no pets are allowed into JAPAN HOUSE São Paulo.

The exhibit also proposes the creation of an online database to allow users to access diagrams, images, and videos of the featured pieces so that they can be reproduced. This initiative allows access to these internationally recognized professionals’ designs. The platform also allows people from all over the world to share their own proposals for the theme at http://architecturefordogs.com .

About this exhibit, JAPAN HOUSE São Paulo Cultural Director Natasha Barzaghi Geenen, says: “It is an unusual way of showing the creative capacity of great architects, who are challenged to think on a totally new scale – and from unusual premises within their daily work – allowing the audience to view a conceptual design exhibit in a fun, accessible way.”