Architecture For Pets: ADI Design Museum, Milan’s New Exhibit Is All About Inclusivity

Architecture has traditionally served as a sanctuary for humanity and its needs, while animals have often wandered these spaces as perplexed outsiders, navigating a labyrinth lost in translation. However, this notion of architecture is expunged at Milan’s ADI Design Museum with a trailblazing nouveau exhibition titled ‘Architecture for Dogs.’ Ingeniously curated by Kenya Hara, CEO of Nippon Design Center and artistic director of Japanese design brand Muji, this exhibition opened on December 3, 2024, and runs until February 16, 2025.

Marking its Italian debut and a second European edition after its 2020 London showcase, this exhibit reflects the evolution of architecture in recent years— from rigid forms to nuanced patterns that adapt to the user. Featuring architects such as Japanese architects Shigeru Ban, Sou Fujimoto and Kengo Kuma, and many more names from around the world, the exhibit initiates a discourse between humans and dogs, and the spaces they share are tailored to the needs of every breed. It delves into inclusivity, “exploring how architecture and design can serve as a language shared by all living species,” explains Hara.

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A Design Odyssey For Dogs And Their Humans

Perching humanity’s most loyal companion—the dog—on a design pedestal, the exhibit reimagines the humble kennels (doghouse), strengthening the bonds between pups and their owners. The exhibition layout, designed by Kenya Hara along with the Hara Design Institute, transforms Milan’s ADI Design Museum into an immersive ‘island,’ offering visitors an expedition through the radical landscape of dog-centric architectural oeuvres. Flanked by permanent exhibits mounted shelves, the ‘Architecture for Dogs’ exhibition poses in the centre, perched atop a sky-blue blanket. Featuring structures ranging from ramps and cushions to vertical doghouses and interactive furniture, this exhibit draws the viewer’s gaze through its entire length.

With every installation positioned to bridge the gaps, the magnum opuses hint at a shift from anthropocentric beliefs to a more inclusive design perspective, translating into a paw-friendly architectural language. As ADI President Luciano Galimberti explains, “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.” He further adds, “It is one of the few museums in Milan that allows access to dogs in its exhibition spaces, making shared experiences between people and animals possible in an open and welcoming cultural environment.” 

To advocate for inclusivity, this immersive exhibition features blueprints that can be downloaded by aficionados from their official website, to craft pet-friendly architectural smithereens. This open-source initiative, complete with instructions, offers a bespoke way for patrons to infuse their creativity into the existing installation designs, constructing dog houses, play areas and dog beds that align with their aesthetic. This immersive feature blurs the lines between onlookers and designers.

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Reimagining Canines’ Humble Abodes

The debut Italian edition is not only about spirited installations but also a deep reflection of the exclusive needs of furry companions. It showcases a duo of bespoke creations by design maestros Giulio Iacchetti and Piero Lissoni, in collaboration with Riva 1920—a brand that embodies sustainability and eco-conscious craftsmanship. Unveiled alongside works of eminent architects and designers, these creative dogscapes transform traditional doghouses into functional art pieces. Crafted from materials like wood, bamboo, and fabric, these designs blend artistry with ingenuity, fostering a profound sense of belonging for humans and hounds alike.

The highlights include a vertical doghouse designed to foster eye-to-eye familiarity between pet and owner, transcending the conventional V-shaped roofs of kennels. From Kengo Kuma’s airy dome-shaped tent and Shigeru Ban’s maze of bamboo tubes to Toyo Ito’s stroller-inspired basket cart, these installations offer an artistic take on dog-centric objects. Retaining its role as a quaint showcase, the exhibition intertwines fashion and design through a chic collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Poldo Dog Couture. The result is a capsule collection that brings haute couture to the canine closet, with chic puffers, tuxedos and knitwear, while underscoring a larger theme of merging boundaries between art, architecture, and fashion.

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With Milan’s population largely consisting of dog parents, ‘Architecture for Dogs’ couldn’t have strayed from a more fitting cultural context. At this exhibition, where design and craftsmanship reign supreme each magnum opus serves as a translator between the humans and their furry companions. With every material and detail whispering of care and connection, this showcase reimagines the doghouse as a sanctuary, a playground, and a bridge that connects two species.