A ‘ Paw’fect Resort for your Furry Friends
Petcart Nest, Bengaluru F+ S Designs, Hyderabad
Pets now constitute a big part of the family, but the country’s metros do not have the space for our pets to play and relax. In Bengaluru though, there’s been a change in this regard. A collaboration with Nilendu Maiti and Shekhar Gaonkar, promoters of petcart. com, has led to the creation of Petcart Nest— a one- of- akind ‘ pet resort’ on the outskirts of the city.
The two- acre plot lay amidst open fields and mango orchards, and was naturally contoured in three tiers. This allowed the entire land mass to be elevated as compared to the surrounding area, which in turned allows one to see as far as the horizon on the eastern side. At the lowest level of the site was a 15- ft- deep dried pond that was revived. Two large trees on the second tier of land were retained and the estate designed around them.
This project has no precedent in India, and there was no set brief. The clients were looking for a grooming centre, a chat room to do live videos between dogs and their owners, a pet clinic, lawns for training and play areas, a large pool, an office, kitchens ( for humans and animals), helpers’ quarters, and as many comfortably- sized kennels as possible— all on a shoe- string budget!
The space was redesigned multiple times, in terms of planning, materials, area allocation, forms and shapes of the buildings, to reduce the cost of construction and maintenance.
The design intention was to leverage the natural land contours and have an ecologically responsible approach. Besides reviving the dried pond and retaining all the trees, natural materials were consciously employed to create built forms that would complement and integrate into the surroundings. The buildings were sited such that the natural vistas of the surroundings remained undisturbed, which is why the reception building is on the lowest tier of the site, while the pet boarding area and the main lawn are placed on the tier 15 feet above it.
The colour palette was kept neutral and earthy to blend with the surroundings. The reception
building is made of a framed metal structure with bamboo stalks and metal jaali work on the rear wall, which over time will be covered by beautiful creepers that have been planted for that purpose. The east facade of the structure consists of bamboo stalks placed side by side vertically, and the composition is completed with an abstract placement of long vertical windows. Bamboo, while being a strong, eco- friendly building material, creates a beautiful permeable mesh that allows the structure to ‘ breathe’, and flushes the interiors with sunlight and ventilation.
Respecting the environment formed the basis of the design process. Animal excreta are collected separately in a bio- gas chamber, while mesh building envelopes reduce heat entrapment and thus the need for electrically-assisted air-conditioning. Rainwater harvesting pits recharge the water table and also help in keeping the pond on site full. The clients will also be investing in solar voltaic cells in the near future to taper the dependence on the grid and produce electricity locally.
The comfort of the four- legged guests was paramount and the resort was carefully designed to allow this. The structures are naturally lit, ventilated and roofed with PUF panels to ensure a cool environment. The pet- boarding building
has multi- level sloping roofs that help in allowing the hot air to escape easily, and at the same time, ensure uniform brightness through the day. Large windows on all sides reduce dependence on artificial lighting.
The kennels are among the biggest available in India, and are built in two sizes to accommodate large and small breeds. Being part wall, part bamboo, each unit is airy. The bamboo material remains sturdy yet keeps the pets from getting injured even if they bite into it. The elaborate plumbing system designed in the kennel area allows all the 70 kennels to be washed and kept tidy, since traps have been provided in each of them. The doorways and corridors are more than six- feet wide to allow humans and dogs to walk alongside.
The pool has been designed in a way that
dogs of different sizes can enjoy a swim. Its depth increases gradually from one foot to four, through a series of four- foot- wide, one- foot- high steps. The water outlets in the pool have been made in such a way that there are multiple traps for fur, so that it doesn’t find its way back into the water circulation system and clog the filtration units.
The responsibility of creating a lush, natural setting for the animals fell largely upon landscaping. For this purpose, the services of Pinewood Studio, a landscape design firm in Hyderabad, were hired. They assisted in designing a beautiful and lush green environment, which is one of the main reasons for pet owners to bring their pets to the resort. The outdoors include a variety of play areas such as lawns, stepping stones, mounds and sandpits for expending animal exuberance, and re- using multiple items of textural variety like tyres, poles and tunnels to make things exciting for the pets.