If dogs are human’s best friends, how is it possible that many people still don’t take them into account when thinking of the space they’ll live in? A new exhibition at Milan’s ADI Design Museum, titled Architecture for Dogs, on view through February 16, seeks to change our perspective and take pets into account before making decisions that also affect them. As the museum explains, “In a world increasingly shaped by anthropocentric values, Architecture for Dogs posits a transformative perspective: dogs are not mere observers of human spaces but active participants, inspiring designs that cater specifically to their behaviors and needs.”
First celebrated in London in 2020, the exhibit has landed in the Italian city, where it’s estimated that half the population lives with a pet — and in Italy as a whole is estimated to be the home of fifteen million dogs. So it’s important that cultural institutions spark conversations around inclusivity beyond the human. As Luciano Galimberti, ADI President, says: “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. 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.”
The show brings together the work of renowned contemporary designers and studios from across the world, including Asif Khan, Atelier Bow-Wow, Hiroshi Naito, Kenya Hara, Kengo Kuma, Konstantin Grcic, Ma Yansong, Torafu Architects, and Toyo Ito, among many others. Their proposals range from ramps to benches, to cushions, rugs, and even vertical doghouses that meet specific needs of different breeds. They put the dogs front and centre to improve their lives — and those of their humans. Because there needs to be a change of paradigm, and design can precisely do that. That’s why many of these designs are available in the exhibit’s official website, so make sure to check it out.
