In the heart of Manhattan’s West Village, a new breed of dog daycare has emerged, challenging conventional wisdom and offering a fresh perspective on urban canine care. Dogtown, designed by New York-based TUNA Architecture, breaks the mold of enclosed, street-averse dog facilities, embracing the vibrancy of its Christopher Street location and drawing inspiration from the iconic Dogtown skate scene of 1970s Los Angeles.
Occupying the ground floor and basement of a new construction building, a concrete box with a prominent storefront, Dogtown’s design capitalizes on its visibility. While the space was initially marketed towards retail tenants, TUNA Architecture and the Dogtown partners recognized the potential for a more open, engaging presence. Unlike typical urban dog daycares that prioritize seclusion, Dogtown invites interaction with the streetscape, creating a unique attraction and a highly effective form of advertising.
This bold approach is evident in the design’s aesthetic, which draws heavily from the skate culture synonymous with the original Dogtown. Elements like ramps and half-pipe-inspired forms are integrated into the dog spaces, while a palette of bright yellow-greens and plywood evokes the sun-drenched atmosphere of Southern California in the 70s. The raw, exposed aesthetic of early Frank Gehry designs, with their exposed stud framing and clashing forms, also serves as a key reference point.
Designing for dogs presented a unique challenge for TUNA. As principal Chris Gardner explains, “It was very hard finding relevant precedents; most information was targeted towards larger non-urban facilities, and with the few dog daycare spaces in the city, you couldn’t really see much past the fairly unadorned reception areas.” This lack of urban-specific precedents necessitated a close collaboration with Colin Hunter, a trained dog behaviorist and Dogtown business partner. This collaboration proved crucial in shaping a design deeply attuned to canine needs and behavior.
One striking example of this collaborative approach lies in the consideration of door swing direction. While typically a matter of code compliance for human spaces, TUNA discovered through testing that dogs reacted differently to in-swing, out-swing, and sliding partitions. This seemingly minor detail informed the planning of door and gate opening sequences throughout the facility, optimizing canine flow and minimizing stress.
Beyond the aesthetic inspiration, material choices were driven by rigorous performance requirements. The flooring throughout is Nora rubber, the same resilient material used in the NYC subway system. This choice provides durability, ease of cleaning, traction, and cushioning for dogs’ paws. The rubber flooring also extends up the walls of the dog spaces, creating a seamless, hygienic surface and incorporating radiused inside corners to prevent digging.
Acoustic comfort was another key consideration. The ceiling and most walls are clad in wood fiber acoustic panels made from recycled wood and a cementitious binder. This material, combined with the rubber flooring, effectively mitigates sound transmission to the residential units above and dampens reverberation from dog barks, creating a more peaceful environment for both dogs and staff.
The design of the building was heavily influenced by its existing infrastructure, particularly the visible sprinkler standpipe, which was painted bright red to match all hardware in the space, creating a cohesive look. This design philosophy also applied to other building systems, which were intentionally left exposed behind cable mesh screens to enhance the sense of openness. Additionally, careful attention was given to the building systems, with heating and cooling loads calculated based on the number of dogs and their activity levels, using academic research instead of standard ASHRAE guidelines. The ventilation system was designed for high efficiency, achieving 24 air exchanges per hour, which is three times the rate found in typical retail or restaurant environments.
Lighting design was equally nuanced. Recognizing dogs’ sensitivity to shadows, TUNA implemented evenly spaced lighting with a wide beam distribution to minimize hard shadows. The lights also feature a dim-to-warm function, gradually dimming the space and warming the light temperature from 3000k to 1800k to reinforce circadian rhythms and promote relaxation, particularly for overnight boarders.
Dogtown represents a significant departure from conventional urban dog care facilities. By embracing its street presence, drawing inspiration from skate culture, and prioritizing canine behavior and well-being, TUNA Architecture has created a truly unique and innovative space that redefines the relationship between dogs, their caregivers, and the urban environment.