Atelier GMO envisions a retreat for humans and dogs to coexist

With the current archetype of architecture which is dominantly human-centric, is there a future where co-existent architecture evolves to encompass non-human populations? This brutalist ‘pet hotel’ in Qinhuangdao, China, by Shanghai-based architecture practice Atelier GOM, is conceived as a retreat for dogs and their owners alike. Befittingly dubbed 犬舍Kennels, the unique hotel design, with its staggered model, takes into thorough consideration the requisites for not only human settlements but also the behavioural tendencies of dogs, from their impulse to fight with strange dogs they encounter to their penchant for urinating everywhere. “The positioning of the Kennels (a pet-friendly hotel for dogs) came from the temporary idea of the owner Ma Yin in the early stage of the plan,” says Zhang Jiajing, partner and lead architect, Atelier GOM. “The positioning of a triangular piece of land at the southernmost end of Aranya as a pet hotel happened after a telephone communication between the owner and the architect. This is of course related to the fact that the chief architect himself has dogs,” she adds.

Atelier GOM, through its expanding oeuvre, has expressed a commitment to innovative design and sustainability. Founded by architects Zhao Yujie and Lu Yang, the studio works towards fusing contemporary aesthetics with local cultural elements. In its portfolio, the practice spans residential design, commercial design and other public projects that emphasise functionality and environmental responsibility. Harnessing a collaborative approach and working closely with clients and communities, the Chinese architects create spaces that resonate with their contexts whilst enhancing them. Their characteristic forward-thinking design philosophy is replicated in their hospitality design project, Kennels.

Since the beginning of the project, the architects and the client envisioned a pet hotel on the triangular corner site in Aranya. Conventional hotel architecture, abiding by the low-rise veranda model, the cluster of scattered buildings model or the model encompassing one big box with a bunch of small boxes, are suitable for humans but not so much for dog-owners due to unexpected dog encounters and the ensuing panic. To address and avoid these situations, the architects refrained from a porch layout and fused the elements of freestanding and townhouse styles; the result was a staggered, stacked model with 30 guest rooms. “The hotel is located in the southernmost part of the neighbourhood, where relative independence was considered, and is adjacent to the large lawn where the dogs are active, as well as a dedicated oceanfront beach,” the architects explain.

The separate entrances and exits create a different form for the project while providing a solution for the excessive dog-to-dog encounters. The blocks, pulled apart to accommodate the stairs, allow natural light to seep into the basement cafeteria. The site's triangular shape influenced the design, with guest rooms oriented outward to limit dog-to-dog visibility, while solid walls inside enhance privacy. This non-parallel layout and the inner courtyard together create a striking one-directional perspective, enriching the spatial experience of the hotel.

Each corner hosts auxiliary functions: a lobby, linen room and pet care area. The basement includes Aranya's sixth canteen, with vertical access via large steps on the southeast, a kitchen freight entrance on the southwest, and a barrier-free elevator on the northwest. Originally designed to house kitchen equipment, the flat roofs were relocated to the northwest green space during construction to mitigate noise and fume impacts, connected by underground pipes. Ground floor rooms are widened to accommodate evacuation stairs, while the back of the staircase serves as a small patio for ventilation and lighting in the canteen.

Each guest room features a lofted mezzanine, with bedrooms upstairs and living rooms below, accommodating various family structures and human-dog dynamics. Initially limited to a size of six by nine metres, the 30 rooms were segregated into four basic types, with slight variations enhancing diversity. Outdoor stairs influence the indoor staircase design, connecting several small spaces for guests and their dogs. The exterior windows evolved from fully open to smaller ones due to fire regulations, creating unique viewpoints for dogs and helping alleviate separation anxiety. The final design includes triple-glazed ultra-clear glass and aluminium openings that align with the facade’s 300 modulus.

The canteen optimises the layout for a shorter food collection line and maximises the buffer zone at checkout. The dining area invites direct sunlight and diffuse reflection from the small light wells. A deliberately increased floor height facilitates a more open feel compared to traditional underground spaces.

The landscape design of the inner courtyard is contrived with dogs in mind, featuring a single-level hard pavement for easy cleaning and maintenance. Additionally, a pet play area with a lawn is included on the west side of the hotel.

The structural consultants initially proposed a box-like slab frame using shear walls and diagonal roofs, a system that called for high design standards and extensive review—making it impractical for a commercial project where time and budget are limited. The designers, hence, opted for a hidden frame structure with columns strategically placed to blend into the lower guest room space; the structural changes are limited to the basement slab.

The finish of the facade design was a matter of debate in the design team, vacillating between fair-faced concrete and textured finishes. Ultimately, due to structural constraints, the team resorted to an almost entirely concrete cast-in-place structure, opting for simpler, cost-effective plywood forms. Unlike the vertical wall pouring process, constructing the shopping roof posed several challenges. Upon conducting various experiments on-site, two roof shapes feature in the rooms: a large flat trapezoidal roof and a small flat roof. The subsequent repairs, waterproofing, insulating and installations complete the hotel’s chassis.

For the architects, the process of creating Kennels is stoked by the intersection of different technical aspects, technologies and the cooperation of all teams involved. In a project such as this, built for specific needs, the architects paid heed to a spectrum of nuances that go beyond the project’s aesthetic appeal. “In the trial period of Kennels, I took my old dog, Diamond, and drove more than 2,700 kilometres back and forth to live in Aranya Kennels for five days to examine the building I had designed for three years from the user's perspective,” the lead architect recalls. “In the end, Diamond and I were satisfied with the design, construction, management and operation of the kennels,” the architect concludes.