One of this year’s most innovative design events, Architects for Animals “Giving Shelter” exhibit, returns to the Herman Miller Showroom in Culver City on October 19th 2017.
The event is expected to be a sold-out fundraiser for LA-based non-profit FixNation, which provides free spay and neuter services for the city’s skyrocketing population of homeless cats.
LA’s top architecture and design firms as well as individual architects and designers have been invited to design, build and donate one-of-a-kind and functional outdoor dwellings for cats. Shelters will be displayed at a cocktail reception attended by the public, VIPs and media representatives. Also on display: cat food bowls decorated by feline-loving celebrities such as Jay Leno, Beau Bridges, Morgan Fairchild, Tricia Helfer, Jackson Galaxy and Elvira; all bowls will be available for purchase via an online auction.
“These cat shelters are absolutely remarkable,” says FixNation’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Karn Myers. “They will help raise awareness about homeless cats and provide practical solutions that can be implemented throughout our community.”
This year’s event has added significance as the organization honors Myer’s late husband, Mark Dodge. The couple co-founded FixNation 10 years ago. Los Angeles is home to one of the nation’s largest populations of homeless felines, an estimated one to three million cats. FixNation is a model for successful Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and humane colony management programs across the country and around the world.
“Many communities use lethal methods in an attempt to control the population of stray, abandoned and feral cats. Such methods are not only horribly cruel, they simply don’t work,” explains Myers. “TNR is a much more effective and compassionate alternative. Our mission is to manage colonies of homeless ‘community cats’ and gradually reduce their number through sterilization.”
Participating firms include Abramson Teiger Architects; ES-EN-EM; HLW; HOK; Knowhow Shop; Kollin Altomare Architects; Pfeiffer Partners Architects; RNL; and Standard Architecture | Design.
The “Giving Shelter” event is open to the public from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the HermanMiller Showroom. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased online or at the door.
