Cat Shelter
Rome, 2022Italy is home to the largest number of species in Europe, but around 70% of its fauna is in danger of extinction due to global warming, and this situation is worsened in urban areas due to the scarcity of green areas, the accumulation of pollutants, and the heat island effect.
But Rome has one special and adorable thing; the figure of the “Gattara”. In Rome, since the times of the empire, stray cats have been protected by law. Their benefits as pest controllers have survived the modern obsession with sterilizing public spaces, reaching the point of being the only human or non-human animals allowed to inhabit the city's monuments.
If a colony of cats is detected in any corner of the city, the government is obliged to protect their habitat wherever it may be. In addition, the cats are helped by ordinary but organized citizens who feed and care for them. They are known as “Gattaras”.
After some studies of the different cat colonies catalogued in the city of Rome we established our cat shelter in the colony Ignazio Silone, near Hostia station.
"Cat Shelter" speculated on a community for cats through a special non-anthropocentric architecture. Neither the materials, nor the form, nor the spaces were designed for human use although they occupied part of the public space.
Our project investigated this situation and pointed to the emergency of thinking about public space not only by prioritizing human needs but also by taking into account other species that inhabit the city and establishing with us (and other non-humans) all kinds of mutually beneficial relationships.
But Rome has one special and adorable thing; the figure of the “Gattara”. In Rome, since the times of the empire, stray cats have been protected by law. Their benefits as pest controllers have survived the modern obsession with sterilizing public spaces, reaching the point of being the only human or non-human animals allowed to inhabit the city's monuments.
If a colony of cats is detected in any corner of the city, the government is obliged to protect their habitat wherever it may be. In addition, the cats are helped by ordinary but organized citizens who feed and care for them. They are known as “Gattaras”.
After some studies of the different cat colonies catalogued in the city of Rome we established our cat shelter in the colony Ignazio Silone, near Hostia station.
"Cat Shelter" speculated on a community for cats through a special non-anthropocentric architecture. Neither the materials, nor the form, nor the spaces were designed for human use although they occupied part of the public space.
Our project investigated this situation and pointed to the emergency of thinking about public space not only by prioritizing human needs but also by taking into account other species that inhabit the city and establishing with us (and other non-humans) all kinds of mutually beneficial relationships.
Architects:
TAKK, Mireia Luzárraga + Alejandro Muiño
Collaborators:
Roger Monfort, Berta Ribaudí
Client:
FAR, Festival dell’Achittetura di Roma
Photo:
José Hevia, Takk
TAKK, Mireia Luzárraga + Alejandro Muiño
Collaborators:
Roger Monfort, Berta Ribaudí
Client:
FAR, Festival dell’Achittetura di Roma
Photo:
José Hevia, Takk
