3rd Annual Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter (Sneak Peek!)

The 3rd Annual Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter takes place tonight and is a collaboration between The Mayor’s Alliance and local architects benefits the New York City Feral Cat Initiative. 

The event raises money for feral cat caretakers as well as heightening awareness around the needs of the feral cat communities and importance of TNR (Trap Neuter Return/Release). Additionally, the feral cat homes created for the event will be donated to local feral communities!

While most people won’t get to see the cat houses until tonight’s reception. I was fortunately enough to get a sneak peek at today’s press event, so now you get a preview too!

Leslie Farrell, founder of Architects for Animals, had the idea for the event three years ago while creating winter shelters for the cats in her local feral colony.  She took one look at the ugly foam box and as an architect knew instinctively there was room for improvement!

Each of the 300 tin can is filled with insulation to keep the kitties warm!

The design teams are given basic guidelines – make sure the shelters are waterproof, warm, portable and safe for animals – and the rest is up to them.

This year, Leslie and the Mayor’s Alliance decided to have each design team meet with the feral caretaker who would ultimately receive the structure so that they could collaborate and ensure the shelters not only looked nice but were as functional as possible!

The design teams are given basic guidelines – make sure the shelters are waterproof, warm, portable and safe for animals – and the rest is up to them.

This year, Leslie and the Mayor’s Alliance decided to have each design team meet with the feral caretaker who would ultimately receive the structure so that they could collaborate and ensure the shelters not only looked nice but were as functional as possible!

If you cannot make the event, you can still always donate to the cause. A donation of $55 to nycferalcat.org buys a winter shelter like this one for some lucky area kitties!

While I was getting a sneak peek I ran into Wendy Diamond and mugged for a shot. Hope Diamond decided to test drive the kitty homes (hope the kitties don’t pick up on her scent!)

NOTE: This year’s participating architectural firms include industry giants H3 Hardy Collaborative Architecture; Francis Cauffman Architects; M Moser Associates; Callison Barteluce; Stonehill & Taylor Architects, with a team of students from City College; Zimmerman Workshop; Kathryn Walton of The American Street Cat (TASC); and Pilot Projects Design Collective.