Review: Pet-tecture: Design for Pets

Pet-tecture: Design for Pets
by Tom Wainwright
Phaidon

In a world where Grumpy Cat has probably earned more than his human family and the wardrobe of small Beverly Hills dogs cost more than most writers’, it’s no surprise that creating imaginative and luxurious homes for our little friends has been a component of top architects’ work. This book is a welcome pleasure, unveiling many of these projects for the first time.

More than 300 colour illustrations in the book’s 288 pages showcase homes for cats and dogs, birds and sheep, bats and rabbits, horses and fish, mice and guinea pigs, and even kangaroos and turtles. Organised using a brilliant graphic key, over 200 projects by Nendo, Kenya Hara, Sou Fujimoto, MAD Architects, Shigeru Ban, Ikea and others show creations that range from chic cat shelves to luxury chicken coops.

This book is an absolute pleasure. Animal lovers will find themselves literally ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ out loud at every page (perhaps as their own furry friends stare at them curiously). It’s a perfect gift and must-have for those who love architecture and animals – wild horses won’t tear you away from these uplifting, fun designs.