British architecture studio Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and architect Mark Gorton have designed a "space-age" dog kennel informed by Star Wars for a competition at Goodwoof.
Described by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) as "bold and space-age", Dog Pod takes its aesthetic from the Star Wars films.
"Dog Pod's bold space-age look influenced by the designer's son's love for Star Wars offers style and comfort to its canine resident," said RSHP.
Dog Pod has a tubular, hexagonal form that is supported by adjustable, lunar landing-style feet that raise the kennel slightly above the ground.
To reduce solar gain to the interior, an orange aluminium sleeve surrounds the main body of the kennel and part exposes the kennel's structural, marine plywood frame. The orange sleeve was extended past the entrance to the kennel to form a shaded canopy.
A hexagonal-shaped door doubles as, what RSHP describes as, a "starship-style boarding ramp" and provides its canine users with ease of access into the blue, cushion-lined interior.
The kennel's elevated structure means the interior can be kept warm on colder days while also allowing for airflow to cool the kennel on warmer days. Space-age-style air vents were incorporated into the rear of the kennel to improve its interior ventilation.
"The design has an extruded hexagonal profile and if put into production, enables each modular unit to be easily scaled up to suit larger dogs, interconnected to create supersized kennels, or stacked vertically to offer honeycomb-like pods for dog homes," said RSHP.
The kennel was designed by RSHP and Jo Cowen Architects director and former RSHP associate Mark Gorton for the Barkitecture competition where architects compete to design innovative and contemporary dog kennels within a £250 budget.
The 16 kennels shortlisted in the competition at the Goodwoof dog event will be auctioned by Bonhams with their proceeds donated to the Dog's Trust.
The firm explained that the competition provided the practice with a chance to implement its research and design ideas across a much smaller, dog-sized scale.
Foster + Partners also entered the Barkitecture competition with Dome-Home – a cherrywood geodesic kennel that was hand made by furniture maker Benchmark.
The photography is by Linda Stewart, courtesy of RSHP.