modular units house dogs in serrano + baquero’s spanish shelter

SERRANO + BAQUERO REIMAGINES ANIMAL SHELTER AS CITY OF DOGS

Serrano + Baquero redefines the traditional animal shelter with their Ciudad de Perros project, an open and humane sanctuary in Granada, Spain, designed to promote freedom, interaction, and vitality for dogs. Rejecting regular cages, the architects introduce prefabricated modular units inspired by the archetypal doghouse. These modules, optimized for mass production, form a flexible, scalable system that adapts to the evolving needs of the shelter. Built with reinforced precast concrete, the structures utilize a single mold with minor variations, enabling economical expansion and reconfiguration.

The project emulates an urban system with open plazas and interconnected spaces, allowing dogs to move freely and engage with their surroundings. Transparent layouts enable animals to perceive the outside world while allowing direct and empathetic connections between visitors and residents. Controlled by staff, these areas ensure a safe, supervised environment. Dogs are organized in rotational shifts based on their health and needs, offering opportunities for outdoor play and social interaction while nurturing their physical and emotional vitality.

all images by Fernando Alda

FROM CAGE TO HOME: doghouse ADAPTABLE DESIGN in spain

Usually, animal shelters prioritize economic constraints, often resulting in confined and oppressive environments characterized by dark corridors and cramped cages. In contrast, the Spanish team at Serrano + Baquero proposes a transformative vision: a shelter conceived as a city—an interconnected space that promotes the well-being of its animal residents.

By aligning the dog houses with recreation yards, the shelter becomes a dynamic city for dogs, where animals are not confined but instead roam, play, and interact as part of a community. This modular approach creates a living, breathing organism—an adaptable shelter designed to grow and evolve with its inhabitants.

Serrano + Baquero redefines the traditional animal shelter with their Ciudad de Perros project

MODULARITY extends to outdoor spaces

The modular system, introduced with the doghouse units, extends to outdoor spaces, incorporating galvanized steel frames and welded mesh panels to create flexible enclosures and access points. Four frame types allow multiple configurations, providing custom solutions for individual dogs and adapting to the spatial requirements of the shelter. Each unit is paired with a private outdoor area, ensuring ample room for exploration and enrichment while maintaining a sense of personal refuge.

Serrano + Baquero’s Ciudad de Perros proposes a shift in animal care, offering a community-centered alternative to traditional shelters—one that centers around freedom, interaction, and the spirit of its four-legged residents.

designed to promote freedom, interaction, and vitality for dogs