EL GATO GROTTO
TYPE: INSTALLATION
LOCATION: AVENTURA MALL
SIZE: 6 sq ft
STATUS: COMPLETE
EL GATO GROTTO IS A DESIGN-BUILD COMPETITION ENTRY FOR THE FIRST PAWCHITECTURE COMPETITION SPONSORED BY AIA MIAMI, MCAD, AND AVENTURA MALL. THE COMPETITION REQUIRED FIRMS TO DESIGN WITHIN SPECIFIC ANIMAL CATEGORIES, IN OUR CASE – CAT HOUSE, AND BUILD THE FURNITURE PIECE TO BE PUT UP FOR AUCTION TO SUPPORT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MIAMI. PIECES WILL BE ACTIVELY DISPLAYED IN AVENTURA MALL THROUGHOUT DECEMBER OF 2022. STOP BY THE MALL FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PUT IN A BID TO PURCHASE THE PIECE.
EL GATO GROTTO AIMS TO SYNTHESIZE THREE MAIN COMPONENTS OF EVERY CAT
HOUSEHOLD: A SCRATCHING POST, A CLIMBER, AND A VARIETY OF SLEEPING SURFACES.
THE DESIGN USES THE TRADITIONAL WRAPPING TECHNIQUE OF THE SCRATCHING POST
INTEGRATED INTO THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SURFACES THROUGH PERFORATIONS ON
THE EXTERIOR. THIS MATERIAL CAN BE CUT AND REPLACED AS NEEDED THROUGHOUT
THE DURATION OF ITS LIFE.
THE INTERIOR ALTERNATES FLOOR PLATES TO ALLOW A VARIETY
OF SPATIAL TRANSITIONS FOR THE CAT(S) TO EXPLORE AS THEY MOVE UP THE CLIMBER.
THE PATTERN MILLED INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIES TO GRAPHICALLY TIE TOGETHER THE
RIGIDNESS OF THE PLYWOOD WITH THE MALLEABILITY OF THE ROPE BY ENGRAVING AN
ABSTRACT WINDING ROPE LIKE TEXTURE INTO THE PANEL. FINALLY, A VARIETY OF SOLID
AND FLEXIBLE SURFACES THAT ARE CLAD IN FELT PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SLEEPING
SURFACES RANGING IN PRIVACY DEPENDING ON THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THE CAT’S
EXPOSURE WHILE SLEEPING. BY TRANSLATING THESE TYPICAL CAT NEEDS INTO
CONTEMPORARY A CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE PIECE, EL GATO GROTTO AIMS TO
PROVIDE A WARM AND RELAXING ENVIRONMENT FOR ANY CAT(S) WITH MODERN
SENSIBILITIES.
CREDITS: CAT VECTORS BY: MACROVECTOR / FREEPIK
