Last month we had the opportunity to participate in FixNation’s Architects for Animals “Giving Shelter” event. Every year, architects and designers from Los Angeles use their talents to design, construct, and donate feline-focused shelters. Our team rallied together to build an efficient, collapsible structure.
As we initially sat down to brainstorm, our imaginations were running wild with cat sized structures. It finally came down to “How do we actually build this thing?” Not only that, but how do we make it feline-worthy? The design parameters required the outdoor cat shelter to create shade, protection from the elements, and the ability to house 2-3 cats.
Our team was inspired by the form and simplicity of the famous Noguchi table, hence the name “noCATchi”. (Sorry Isamu Noguchi – we couldn’t resist!) After a few iterations, we decided to CNC (computer numeric control) parts that could fit on a single sheet of plywood. The design is easily collapsible (which was important because we wouldn’t have been able to fit it in the car for transport). The inspiration for this came from tent technology, which allows us humans to create temporary, collapsible shelters. A custom tent pole and rainfly spans the top of the shelter to provide relief from the elements. To make this feline-worthy, we provided exclusive built-in amenities which include: knitted bed, scratch pad, monkey ball, water bowl, and braided toy. As we said in the office, it’s like glamping for your cat.
In the end, we loved creating a playful, yet functional structure that uses simple materials and construction For more information about the event, check out Architectural Digest’s article here.
What the Critics are saying..
“It’s like ‘glamping’… but for your cat!”
“Word on the street is it’s purrrrrfect.”
“Noguchi meets REI.”
“So much floor space in here… it’s making my head spin how many activities we can do.”
Below is our Sales Construction Brochure for the event.
FixNation is a non-profit organization committed to cats and supporting Trap-Neuter-Return. They provide a free, full-time spay neuter clinic for homeless or stray cats and low-cost, affordable services for other pet cats and dogs. Learn more at http://www.fixnation.org.
