It’s that time of year again when we get to mix some of our favorite things - architecture, product design, branding, and dogs - into a design competition entry. The annual Charleston Animal Society “Barkitecture” Doghouse Design Competition aims to blend innovation and design with the comfort and well-being of our furry friends, creating spaces that are both functional and stylish. The entries are currently up for auction and will be displayed at the “Emerald City Gala - Applause for Paws” fundraising event scheduled for Saturday 10/4 at the Gaillard Center in Charleston, SC.

Our 2025 doghouse design, “Dot” is an edited, refined version of last year’s design, “The Dottie”. This collection is intended to offer dual-function, furniture-quality designs to enhance and declutter your shared space. With a quartz top and solid wood construction, this piece can serve family pets and their loving families for generations. See the gallery below for renderings and production progress photos and note our amazing partners below that made it all happen:

Palmetto Surfacing

Robert Thomas Iron Design

Harbor Contracting

Lowcountry Case and Millwork

Rush David Dixon IV Photography

Dave Dixon: Millwork / Assembly

Mr. Tibbits the Whippet: Model + Muse

The auction for “Barkitecture” doghouses is now live with proceeds going to The Charleston Animal Society. Click HERE to see all of the entries. Consider taking a look, bidding, or just donating if you can.

We were recently gifted a copy of Jo Steffens’ book “Unpacking My Library: Architect and Their Books” published in 2009 by Yale University Press. A book about architecture books, how perfect. The book is launched with Walter Benjamin’s essay “Unpacking My Library: A Talk about Book Collecting” then followed by 10 chapters each focused on a notable architect or duo and their collection. In a spectacular show of comprehensiveness, each chapter has an in depth interview with the architects illuminating their relationship with books, varied sources of inspiration plus details about the physical book case design (manufacturer, number of volumes, linear dimensions, materials of the actual shelves) complete with a wide shot in situ and shelf-by-shelf thumbnails. The summary of each chapter is a list of their Top Ten books. Be still our hearts - we fully understand we are a different breed - equally excited about design inspiration, information sources, furniture design and a peek behind the (bookshelf) curtain of the “greats.”

“ This book captures a representative cross-section of these notable libraries, mapping the intellectual and emotional terrain of present-day architects and scholars…Each architect’s collection is unique and informs its owner’s practice in surprising ways. Tod Williams and Billie Tsien’s library, for example, is remarkable for its archaeological and literary aesthetic, while Liz Diller and Ric Scofidio’s library is imbued with a techno-eclectic and pop-cultural sensibility.”
Jo Steffen

In a surprise to no one, we were not invited to be a part of Steffen’s book, none-the-less here is a glimpse of our own collection and current Top Ten architecture books. Happy reading!