Humane Architecture to Befriend the Animals we Live with: Animal Shelter in beautiful Alexandria, Virginia

This thesis is a study of architecture on how to improve the life of homeless animals through strengthening the relationship between us, humans and the animals we live among. There are millions of shelter animals being killed every year which is both dreadful and expensive. This number can be de...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mostafavi, Anahita
Other Authors: Architecture
Format: Others
Published: Virginia Tech 2018
Subjects:
Pet
Dog
Cat
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10919/82236
Description
Summary:This thesis is a study of architecture on how to improve the life of homeless animals through strengthening the relationship between us, humans and the animals we live among. There are millions of shelter animals being killed every year which is both dreadful and expensive. This number can be decreased greatly if people acted more responsibly towards the creatures they have domesticated. It is true that most people enjoy taking care of animals, they usually feel a strong emotional connection with them, specially those who share their homes with their pets. The problem is that many find the animal shelters a depressing place filled with sick unwanted animals. How can we, design professionals, encourage people to interact more with animal shelters? How can the design affect both physical and emotional health of these animals? Can architecture raise awareness about the creatures in our urban civilization? This project explores a few design approaches that can teach people about shelters and urban animals and how physically different we are from them. The building is also a study of an animal shelter as a system that can improve their day-to-day life to become healthier and happier. It is proposed that these architectural changes would aid the adoption rate as well as creating a happier pet and owner. === Master of Architecture