In the heart of bustling Poznan, where concrete and green constantly intertwine, a unique initiative has been born. The KOTYdż project is the fruit of passion and creativity, created thanks to the involvement of coordinator Magda Wypusz and the University of Arts in Poznan, SARP Poznan and the Common Point Association. KOTYdż is a manifesto of concern for free-living cats, of which there are about 30,000 in Poland. This initiative becomes a story about the coexistence of man and nature, where passion and innovation shape spaces, enabling a new quality of life for both residents/residents and their four-legged neighbors.
TOTEM
© Matyas Molnara, studio OBIEKT
During the workshop , 60 design students from Poland, Germany and Hungary worked on designs for free-living cat houses that would not only be functional and safe for the animals using them, but also aesthetically pleasing and integrated into the local context. Each of the six teams worked on a given location, which was looked after by individual feeders, who created design guidelines for each team and, together with the Voice of Animals Foundation (a content partner), consulted and ultimately approved the designs.
TOTEM - a vertical innovation
Under the direction of architect Matyas Molnar of the OBIEKT studio in Poznań , the TOTEM project was created, a three-meter-high structure containing three individual cat houses. After consulting with local feeders, the male and female students decided to locate the houses near the border of the plot, near an old apple tree. A special "bridge" connects the structure to the tree, allowing the animals to move freely between the artificial shelter and the natural surroundings. Wooden lean-tos and a retractable wall increase the functionality of the design, making access and maintenance easier.
TOTEM
© Matyas Molnara, OBIEKT studio
The second design group led by Jan Szymankiewicz of OBIEKT studio worked on three larger houses designed for at least two cats. The houses were created from L-shaped plywood modules placed on platforms, which reduces contact with the ground and increases insulation. The individual arrangement of the interior shelves allows for flexible arrangement, and the blue lines indicate how the individual units are connected to form a cohesive, functional whole.
Cat houses from ROD Chociszewskiego
© Jan Szymankiewicz, OBIEKT group
GAB works - space "on the Warta River".
A group led by Katarzyna Osipowicz-Grabowska and Piotr Grabowski of the GAB studios created shelters for cats in the "Nad Warta" Family Allotment Garden.The initiative called for the creation of shelters for at least seven cats, located in the common area of the garden, near the public garbage garbage cans. Designed two connected platforms, resembling shelves from local stalls, allow any configuration of the houses. The removable roof, covered with red asphalt shingles, protects them from adverse weather conditions, while fitting in with the idyllic character of the allotment's architecture.
Houses for cats living in the Nad Warta Family Allotment Garden
© GAB Studio
Catower and Catsteria - an urban innovation
Víctor Armas-Crespo, Yingle Zhang and their team faced the challenge of creating two disparate shelters. Catower is a cat tower inspired by the historic Poznań City Hall, with multiple levels connected by ramps and stairs, acting as a vertical playground.
Catower
© Víctor Armas-Crespo, Yingle Zhang
Catsteria, on the other hand, is a small house placed in the window opening of an abandoned tenement, perfectly suited to the limited space. The design provides two entrances, labyrinthine corridors and a dedicated feeding area, guaranteeing protection from the outdoors.
Catsteria
© Víctor Armas-Crespo, Yingle Zhang
CATalogue and Inside Out - flexible solutions
The latest concepts, implemented by groups of students from TU Berlin under the direction of architects Gaizka Altuna, Mirza Vranjaković and Mirza Vranjakivić, were built on the grounds of the Family Allotment Gardens in Sypnievo. CATalogue are modular houses that can be positioned both horizontally and vertically, equipped with interchangeable side walls that adapt to weather conditions.
Catower
© Víctor Armas-Crespo, Yingle Zhang
Inside Out, inspired by the Memphis group's style, features two shelter designs - one next to a gazebo, the other in a meadow - with elevated entrances that prevent other animals from accessing food and improve thermal insulation.
Inside Out
© Mirza Vranjakivić
The KOTYdz initiative is a manifesto of cooperation, education and care for nature. The involvement of students, architects and local feeders results in innovative projects that significantly improve the quality of life for free-living cats in Poznan. The project inspires similar activities in other cities, combining passion, knowledge and creativity in the service of nature.
Project coordinator: Magda Wypusz
Organizers: SARP Poznań, Common Point Association, University of Arts in Poznań
Partners: Voice of Animals Foundation, Wielkopolska Regional Chamber of Architects, Szechenyi Istvan University, TU Berlin, Orlen Foundation, Leniar, Festool
Project website: www.kotydz.com
