Animal Medical Center to Auction Luxury Pet Homes
By Stephanie Brown

The Animal Medical Center, a non-profit animal hospital located in New York City, this week unveiled three luxury pet houses that will be auctioned off as part of its annual benefit. The one-of-a-kind doghouse, birdhouse and cat condo are currently up for bid on the e-commerce website, eBay, and will be auctioned off live using eBay at the AMC’s Top Dog Gala scheduled for Nov. 18 in New York City.

The money raised from the event will be used to help support the Animal Medical Center’s mission of promoting the health and well-being of companion animals through advanced treatment, research and education.

Founded in 1910, the Animal Medical Center is one of New York City’s largest facilities for veterinary care, research and education.

It receives about 50,000 patient visits each year and offers a variety of free or subsidized charity programs, including the Frank V.D. Lloyd Fund for Guide Dogs, Seniors’Animal Veterinary Effort and Patient Assistance Fund.

Last year, the Top Dog Gala raised just over $1 million for the Animal Medical Center. Organizers expect to meet that mark this year.

Jeffrey Klausner, the organization's CEO and president, said the charity dollars raised by the non-profit are “incredibly critical” to support the Animal Medical Center’s mission and its charity programs.

“It’s going to be even more important here as we move forward these next couple of years,” he said, referring to the country’s struggling economy.

While the Top Dog Gala is an annual event, this is the first time that the Animal Medical Center has commissioned architects to create items for auction. Wendy Lehman, co-chairperson of the event, said she came up with the idea as a way to spice up the fundraising event.

“I thought, what was going to be fun? What’s going to be interesting?” said Lehman, who is also a member of the organization's board of trustees. “It’s culminated in a fabulous way.”

Several architects were tapped to create the posh pet properties. William Pedersen and Trent Tesch, of KPF in New York, N.Y., designed the doghouse. They used a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine to sculpt birch plywood into a doghouse reminiscent of a nautilus shell.

Pedersen said the inspiration for the structure came from a luxury residential building KPF is currently working on called One Jackson Square. That project, he said, utilizes the milling technology to create a unique wood lobby.

“For us, the doghouse was a very interesting thing to do not just from an artistic standpoint, but to further explore the designs we’ve had architecturally,” Pedersen said.

Tesch said they also drew from their experience as dog owners. The idea to create a round doghouse stemmed from the way dogs circle before lying down. They also equipped the doghouse with a roof made of sod for a dog to sit on.

Sandi Pei, of Pei Partnership Architects LLP in New York, N.Y., designed the birdhouse, which is made of both bronze-painted and stainless steel. Pei said his inspiration came from pavilions he designed for Tianfu Square in Chengdu, China.

Pei said it was a pre-revolutionary tradition for men to bring their caged birds to the city.

That tradition, he said, “became a very logical and inspirational source” for both the pavilions and the birdhouse.

The style and excitement of a Harley Davison motorcycle was the muse for Bartholomew Voorsanger’s cat condo.
 
Vorrsanger, of Vorsanger Architects in New York, N.Y., used metal, metallic paint in a shimmering rainbow of tangerine, purple and lime, and faux fur in the condo’s construction. The top of the condo features a dangling fish toy made of crystals.

The pet houses were expected to be posted on eBay this week, and can be found by searching for the term "Animal Medical Center.

The Top Dog Gala is scheduled to take place at The Rainbow Room in New York City on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. For more information, call 212-329-8666.

Posted November 11, 2008