“LoDog” Denver Solar Dog House

A dog house built by Zaga Neighborhood Design.

Accompanying the 2017 Solar Decathlon was the Sustainable BARKitecture Dog House Competition, a challenge to local Denver architecture firms to design and build the ideal solar dog house.

The homes were built for a specific Canine Airport Therapy dog and were on display at the Denver International Airport through Oct. 9th, 2017. The homes were sold in an online auction to benefit the Dumb Friends League.

SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION:
This eco-friendly, insulated plywood house made largely of recycled IKEA countertops, has a roof that is coated in white sealant to reflect the sunlight and reduce the interior temperature on warm days. The house is heated and cooled via a combination heater/fan powered by the solar panel, and also takes advantage of passive cooling opportunities by providing coverable airflow grates on the floor. Rainwater is harvested through a first flush diverter system and is filtered through a water dispenser to quench Ingrid’s thirst.

INSPIRED BY:
DEN Canine Airport Therapy Squad dog, Ingrid, a Lab/retriever mix who loves reading with children but is not so fond of nuzzles from the cat.

DESIGN CONCEPT:
The “LoDog” house features a façade that “barkens” to the architecture of Denver’s early days with modern day hints from the graffiti wall, keeping Ingrid in sync with the city’s historic/hip LoDo area.

Architecture Firm: Zaga Neighborhood Design http://www.zagadesigngroup.com

Learn more about the Canine Airport Therapy Squad.