Finalists in the contest include: George + James Architects; Grimshaw; RSHP, Simon Allford/AHMM, Hopkins, Hall + Bednarczyk; Morag Myerscough; and Kit Kemp Design Studio, Minnie Kemp and Henry Neville Wood.
The shortlist is completed by: David Snowdon & The King’s Foundation; HPW Architecture; Luke Morgan and Elvis; Paul Archer Design; Polysmiths; Randell Design Group; Sebastian Conran & Beta Design Office; Daniel Arsham; and Six Dots Design.
The competition invited architects and design practices to create kennel designs that embrace the great outdoors, inspired by the theme ‘Dogs in Space’.
It is curated by TV presenter Kevin McCloud and Charles Gordon-Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond. This year’s contest will be judged by McCloud and British astronaut Tim Peake.
This year’s shortlist includes 10 entrants who are entering the annual competition for the first time. The overall winner will receive the Kennel Design Award.
Participants must design and construct or procure their kennel, delivering the finished kennel to Goodwood in time for the Goodwoof festival, which takes place on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May.
All kennels will be auctioned by Bonhams on the Sunday of Goodwoof, raising funds for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Since launching in 2022, the Barkitecture auction has generated more than £62,000 in charitable donations, supporting animal welfare organisations.
Last year’s winner was Snowdon Dog House, designed by David Snowdon and Matthew Rice with Scott Simpson. It was picked from a shortlist that included ADAM Architecture, Hall + Bednarczyk Architects, SOM and TV presenter Max McMurdo.
This year’s contest featured a record number of kennel submissions record as Goodwoof enters its fifth year. The overall winner will receive the Kennel Design Award.
Tim Peake said: ‘I’m delighted to have been asked to judge this year’s Barkitecture competition. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the architects embrace the theme and weave a sense of cosmic adventure into their designs. Space exploration has always been about partnership, trust and companionship – qualities we share with our dogs every day. I can’t wait to see how that unique bond inspires these out‑of‑this‑world kennels.’
Aiste Butler, graphic designer and dog trainer at SW Dog Training in London, commented: ‘This year’s Barkitecture shortlist is truly out of this world. It’s great to see some of the world’s best architects and designers putting forward unique and memorable concepts that really lift off.
‘Every dog loves an adventure and a voyage into the unknown. But after tiring play outside or in outer space they need somewhere familiar to rest and recharge, so it’s great to see so much thought and attention paid to making these kennels comforting, practical and eye-catching.’
Shortlisted entries
The Moon Dog by Sebastian Conran & Beta Design Office
Sebastian Conran & Beta Design Office
Founded in 1980, the award‑winning architecture and interior design studio Conran + Partners returns for a fourth consecutive year with The Moon Dog. This visionary concept features a geodesic, cell‑based structure, engineered to withstand extreme conditions while remaining compact and lightweight enough for efficient spacecraft stowage.
Daniel Arsham
ArchinautX by George + James Architects
George + James Architects
Returning for their fourth year, George + James present ArchinautX, a concept blending imaginative storytelling with refined craftsmanship. Inspired by the rocket from Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out and the retro‑futurist flair of Despicable Me, the design pairs a theatrical, space‑bound exterior with a calm, Scandinavian‑inspired interior.
Dog Space Shelter 06 by Grimshaw
Grimshaw
Grimshaw returns with Dog Space Shelter 06, a high‑tech, canine‑centred shelter designed for life beyond Earth. Using components from the modular system developed for the Mabeg headquarters in Germany, DSS 06 reflects the studio’s hallmark precision, accessibility and innovation.
Kubrick’s Bone by Hall + Bednarczyk
Hall + Bednarczyk
Hall + Bednarczyk present Kubrick’s Bone, a playful nod to 2001: A Space Odyssey. A cosy bed anchors the design, while suspended bone‑shaped elements float above like a mobile, creating the illusion of zero gravity as dogs rest comfortably on solid ground.
The Moon Rover by Hopkins Architects
Hopkins Architects
Further details of their concept will be revealed soon.
HPW Architecture
Making their Barkitecture debut, HPW Architecture introduces Star Paws Sleeping Module, a cosy space pod. Constructed from upcycled materials, the design reflects the studio’s commitment to sustainability and purposeful reuse.
The Legend of Diego, Astro Dog by Kit Kemp Design Studio, Minnie Kemp & Henry Neville Wood
Kit Kemp Design Studio, Minnie Kemp and Henry Neville Wood
Kit Kemp Design Studio makes its first Barkitecture appearance with the Legend of Diego, Astro Dog – a 2m‑tall wooden sculpture crafted by master artisans. Celebrating imagination and craftsmanship, the structure offers sanctuary for canine explorers.
David Snowdon & The King’s Foundation
Further details of their concept will be revealed soon.
Elvis Adventurer — Morag Myerscough & Luke Morgan
Morag Myerscough, Luke Morgan & Elvis
Morag Myerscough debuts at Barkitecture with The Adventurer, a vibrant, playful space‑pod concept inspired by childhood cardboard spaceships. Bursting with colour and pattern, it reflects her signature approach to transforming environments through bold visual language.
The K-9 Cave by Paul Archer Design
Paul Archer Design
Paul Archer Design presents K‑9 Cave, a concept inspired by the idea of a ‘primitive future’, combining early architectural traditions with imagined extraterrestrial living.
Pluto Pod by Polysmiths
Polysmiths
Polysmiths introduces The Pluto Pod, a lightweight cosmic capsule made from 3D‑printed basalt‑reinforced PLA with rugged, stepped geometry for meteor protection. Inside, 140 recycled tennis balls – hand‑cut, foam‑filled and dyed in Goodwoof Orange – create a tactile, scent‑rich nest, created with the help of Fab.Pub.
The PAWdyssey by Randell Design Group
Randell Design Group
Randell Design Group returns with The PAWdyssey, a modular pod that adapts to the size of its canine traveller. The enclosed space offers security and sanctuary, while the base serves as a docking station stocked with food, water and toys for the journey ahead.
The Anti-Gravity Lounger by RSHP
RSHP
RSHP presents The Anti‑Gravity Lounger, a deployable structure exploring suspension as a state of calm. Lightweight, collapsible and built from everyday components, it reflects an approach guided by purpose over excess – a celebration of gravity, balance and tranquillity.
Dogs in Space – 2051: A Space Odyssey – for dogs by Simon Allford/AHMM
Simon Allford/AHMM
Award winning architects, Simon Allford/AHMM will make their first appearance at this year’s Barkitecture competition. The practice’s philosophy is that great architecture should be memorable, informed by the past, serving the present and generous enough to accommodate an unknown future, fitting for this year’s Dogs in Space theme. Taking inspiration from Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey, Simon Allford/AHMM have created a kennel concept that takes notes from Laugier’s primitive huts, bringing memories of space travel into the home.
A Dog In Disguise by Six Dots Design
Six Dots Design
Six Dots Design returns with A Dog in Disguise, imagining how a canine space traveller might blend in on an unfamiliar planet. The kennel takes the form of an alien‑dog companion that opens for lounging or closes to provide a protective cloak of disguise.