The Dog House
2736 Banks Street
Client: Kelly Robinson and Samantha Chodyla
Role: Architecture, Interior Design, Furnishing Specification, Procurement, Purchasing, Installation
Scope: New Construction
Status: Complete 2024
Size: 5,300 sq. ft.
Budget: $1,000,000
Collaborators: Arch Builders, Batture, Synergy Consulting Engineers, Indigo Madness
Neighborhood context and design inspiration from a dog’s perspective
Located at the residential and commercial edge of a New Orleans neighborhood, the project employs an architectural language that brings together both residential and commercial architecture languages. Aiming to seamlessly integrate into the local context, the buildings were designed as a playful collection of three interconnected dwellings, carved away to provide space for the bar, outdoor seating area, and kitchen.
Operating both as a dog run and an outdoor eatery, the design team was tasked with packing a robust program into the site’s relatively small, rectilinear site. Situated on a typical narrow New Orleans lot, the team concluded the best arrangement was to place the dog run at the front of the property with the bar and restaurant in the rear. Materially, the team prioritized high performing products that could withstand the wear and tear of this indoor-outdoor facility.
Color plays an important role in the project. The team researched how dogs see color and found they can distinguish between variations of blues, yellows, whites, and grays, prompting a color palette of cool blues and bold yellows that adorn the exterior seating area of the restaurant. The roof is comprised of dark gray integrally colored metal panels that fold down the walls, contrasting the colorful interior spaces throughout and while contributing to the durability of the structures. Combined with a colorful mural designed by a local muralist, The project is a playful place where both humans and dogs can unwind in a community-oriented environment.
