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'Re-Tire-Tent' by Narofsky Architecture (Photo by Carol Zytnik)

New York’s Architects Support Community Cats

The crowd favorite community cat shelter on display at the fifth annual 'Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter' fundraiser to support the NYC Feral Cat Initiative was 'Re-Tire-Tent,' a multi-level recycled tire tower created by Narofsky Architecture. (Photo by Carol Zytnik)
The crowd favorite community cat shelter on display at the fifth annual “Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter” fundraiser to support the NYC Feral Cat Initiative was “Re-Tire-Tent,” a multi-level recycled tire tower created by Narofsky Architecture. (Photo by Carol Zytnik)
On January 14, 2016, close to 200 people attended Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter, a unique exhibit, cocktail reception, and fundraiser held at the Steelcase Showroom to support the New York City Feral Cat Initiative (NYCFCI), a program of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.

This year, the event’s fifth, seven prestigious New York City architectural design teams presented winter shelters they conceived and created specifically for the city’s community cat population. Creations included The Purrramid from Spacesmith, a pointed structure with a paper mache exterior over repurposed carpet-tile insulation; Kitty Kondos, feline multi-story housing from HLW International; and the Hamilton “Cat”sule Tower from Docomomo US.

Shelters demonstrating innovative use of recycled materials were also on display, including an orange-and-white-striped, plastic construction barrel shelter with an insulated liner from deSoto studio Architects; a winding, industrial pipe shelter called HV A Cat from Biber Architects; and a tire tower called Re-Tire-Tent from Narofsky Architecture that guests voted as their favorite.

Leslie Farrell, animal lover and founder of Architects for Animals, was on hand to thank guests for showing their support, and the design teams that donated shelters for this year’s exhibition. “We are grateful and overwhelmed by their creativity and generosity,” she said. “Their compassion for animals who find themselves living on the harsh streets of New York is really heartwarming. Each year we see different trends demonstrated by the shelter designs, and this year, it’s exciting to see many of the shelters constructed with recycled materials, which is great for our planet and its inhabitants — including the cats. All the shelters were wonderful.”

“The Purrramid” from Spacesmith was a decorative as well as functional community cat shelter on display at the 2016 "Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter" exhibit. (Photo by Thea Feldman)
“The Purrramid” from Spacesmith was a decorative as well as functional community cat shelter on display at the 2016 “Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter” exhibit. (Photo by Thea Feldman)
The shelters were delivered the very next day to Certified TNR Caretakers around the city.

Jane Hoffman, President of the Alliance, commends the architectural and design community in New York City for, “once again, investing in the city’s feline community in an important way. While we urge the public to help in the Alliance’s efforts to humanely curb the feral cat population,” she adds, “the efforts of our designers will help keep the existing cats warm during these harsh winter months.”

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