BARKitecture Dog House Competition

Inspired by Oreo, a Saint Bernard/standard poodle mix, who likes hot dogs and rolling in the snow, this house takes advantage of Colorado’s unique climate and is constructed of ultra-lightweight, rot-resistant, locally assembled panels made of sustainable materials. The exterior is clad in weather and fire treated beetle kill lumber with a fire resistant roof made from reclaimed steel, and includes insulated glass vision panels and copper gutters for rain collection.

Inspired by Oreo, a shih tzu/bichon mix whose favorite activity is socializing, this house’s moderate climate is balanced with renewable energy, water harvesting and local materials. Oreo’s house is equipped with a fan, solar chimney and underfloor heating system to control the environment year-round.

Inspired by Pesto, a labrador retriever who’s never met a treat he doesn’t like, this house provides multiple degrees of openness to allow for a smaller space that is easier to keep warm in cold weather and cooler in the warmer months. Pesto’s house has a steel frame for easy assembly/disassembly with bolt-together construction. The sliding roof lets the sun in and keeps the weather out and the wind-scoop design and perforated wall panels keep the house ventilated.

Inspired by Amelia, a dachshund with a taste for rawhide bones, this house takes after the architecturally iconic Farnsworth House in Illinois. The VienerHaus features a simple form and low profile that aligns with Amelia’s sleek proportions. A slatted system built of reclaimed materials allows for cross ventilation, solar heat gain control and visibility so Amelia can keep a watchful eye out for squirrels.

Inspired by Chewy, a 135-pound Newfoundland whose favorite place is anywhere near food, this house is designed to provide Chewy with a direct path to his fresh water and food station. After chow time, he can move toward a wood-slatted shaded area for lounging and bone chewing or cross a threshold into a comforting space for sleep and relaxation shielded from the elements. This house conveniently flows with Chewy’s every want and need while reducing his carbon paw print.

Inspired by Jewels, a Pyrenees/lab mix, who loves visiting with people almost as much as she loves carrots, this house puts function first and creates enough renewable energy for its systems to operate at net zero. Jewels’ house is made of recycled materials and its special design allows for collection of rain water, as well as a harvesting area for planting materials. The house is also elevated to allow passive cooling, assisted by a recirculation fan.

Inspired by Nellye, a golden retriever who loves people but would rather avoid loud noises, this house features a wide porch for friendly visits and a doorway that gradually transitions to a quiet, private area for escaping commotion and decompressing. Its solar panel charges a battery that powers LED lighting, a pump to fill and circulate water to a built-in drinking bowl and a low-voltage heating mat for chilly days.

Inspired by Sidney, an Australian shepherd, who enjoys snacking on carrots and likes hanging out with her human mom most of all, health and wellness are at the forefront of this one-piece concept. Its integrated “turf chair” provides a place for Sidney’s visitors to connect with her more closely. It also contains a solar powered outlet for laptop or phone charging, an automatic toy toss, an evaporative cooling system, a fridge to chill beer and carrots, and Sidney’s name in lights.

Inspired by Radar, a pistachio-loving Belgian malinois whose favorite activity is agility work, this roost ties in Denver’s vibrant RiNo neighborhood. It illustrates that everything can have more than one purpose. The front wall folds up to create an awning over the porch so Radar can take advantage of the breeze on hot summer days and also have shelter from the elements of winter.

Inspired by Samson, an apple-eating golden retriever whose pet peeve is squirrels, this house provides Samson with comfort after a good day’s work of greeting DEN travelers. On hot summer days, Samson will have great ventilation with slatted assemblies on two sides of his dog house to let a nice breeze come through. And for colder and windier days, the detachable wind shield blocks out incoming weather elements. The angle of the roof is designed to optimize solar energy absorbed by the sun.

Inspired by Choo-Choo, a 100-pound Newfoundland, who loves meatballs and meeting people, this two-level house has a lower zone that utilizes interactive rope walls for cross ventilation. When it’s chilly, Choo-Choo can take refuge in the more tightly enclosed upper loft, heated by the adjacent soda can solar roof assembly.

Inspired by Ingrid, a lab/retriever mix, who loves reading with children but not so fond of nuzzles from the cat, the “LoDog” house features a façade that “barkens” to the architecture of Denver’s early days. Its graffiti wall keeps Ingrid in sync with the city’s historic/hip LoDo area. Among other things, this eco-friendly, insulated plywood house has a roof that is coated in white sealant to reflect the sunlight and reduce the interior temperature on warm days.

Inspired by Sarah, a standard poodle, who loves obedience activities and will snack on any available treat, this house is built with laminated wood frames and insulated walls to provide an efficient and strong support. Sustainable features include a rain water collection system with filtration, passive heating and cooling, a concrete thermal mass wall, radiant floor heating, and a solar panel battery system to power all electronic devices.

Inspired by Butler, a shepherd mix who is fond of people-food and chasing varmints, this house saves on energy by its smaller design. The geometric design was driven by the reuse of existing material. The solar panel, which is angled to optimize maximum energy creation, powers both indoor and outdoor electrical outlets.

Inspired by Annie, a terrier mix partial to snacking on snow and chasing squirrels, Bowhaus 57 emulates the Colorado Mountains to support her terrier tendencies toward climbing and burrowing. This organically designed house features resting areas, enclosures, shade and a rooftop area for winter sunbathing. The solar panel, which will power Annie’s nightlight, is positioned to favor the solar angle of winter months when there are fewer hours of daylight.