IIDA Petutopia 2009

Although the Phoenix weather began cooling down in November, the designers at HDC were definitely heating up! Tackling a whole new aspect of design, the team created a “Pawsh Puppy Palace” and entered a competition to raise money for the ‘Lost Our Home’ pet foundation.

Partnered with the Southwest Chapter of IIDA, the foundation raises funds for displaced pets left behind in the foreclosure crisis through an event called ‘Petutopia’. The event corrals local architects and designers to create custom, unique pet homes that are later auctioned off to the highest bidder. All entries must be created with certain characteristics, such as: portability, recycled materials, size requirements and an eco-friendly factor.

HDC’s design team crafted a chic retreat for a small dog, living the condo life in the city. The main shell of the dog house was constructed from old media panels left over from a hotel guestroom. The water resistant flooring was donated, and the mosaic tiles surrounding the inset food and water dishes were old samples collected over the years.

The "Pawsh Puppy Palace" was completed with a pullout compartment to hide toys, bones, and leashes, making the pooch’s organized owner happy too. The end result was a modern mutt’s dream!