We have heard of tiny houses on wheels but did you ever come across a dog house on wheels? Did it have PV panels on the roof? The chances of such an encounter are slim to none. But Conran & Partners, an architecture and design studio based in London has designed the first-ever off-grid dog house on wheels and it is the most astounding thing you’d see on the internet today.
Dubbed Bowowhaus, the dog house prototype is an official entry by Conran & Partners for Barkitecture 2023. Conran & Partners calls the modernist Bauhaus movement as an inspiration behind the project. The dog house has been designed keeping the Goodwoof Barkitecture 2023 theme, ‘‘A Companion Piece – Dogs at Work’ in mind.
“The name Bowowhaus was reflecting the Goodwoof, Barkitecture leitmotif – all puns intended – which logically led to German Shepherd,” dog house designer Sebastian Conran told me in an exclusive chat. “It was conceived and designed with help from Beta Design Office who undertook the design implementation and build,” he added.
Conceived as a nomadic, German Shepherd’s hut, the Bowowhaus features two wheels, a staircase that leads inside the interior of the dog house on wheels, and a window (which may function as a second entry) for your dog to peep outside. You can also spot a dog bowl and a mattress in the pictures which probably will come with the house.
“The intention is that it could be made at home, using basic tools and with a materials budget,” Conran states. Hence, the dog house was principally fabricated from reclaimed materials such as old BMX wheels from eBay, used slats from skip-harvesting, and old wooden pallets.
Also Read: This Japanese-Style Doghouse Costs More Than an Airstream Trailer
“Due to time constraints required for the prototype we had to use what was readily available and had to use new components and materials,” Conran informs. However, what sets the Bowowhaus apart from other dog houses is off-grid enhancements such as the PV panel to provide off-grid lighting and under-floor heating. Not to mention, the rainwater harvesting has also been taken care of, courtesy of a sloping roof.
The idea behind the project is that a dog would be able to take their home along by using battery PV-powered electric assist wheels similar to those found in e-bikes. “Admittedly this is perhaps a pipe dream and out-of-budget concept, and I am not sure how the RSPC would view Victorian-era dog carts these days,” Conran states. Though it was imagined as a medium size dog hut, the design implementation has become somewhat larger than Sebastian Conran originally envisaged.
