The relationship between a dog and its owner is one of those life-affirming things that can cause even the most staunch among us to tap into an infinite capacity to love. It’s a bond that propels us to go above and beyond for our four-legged friends and imbues life with a sense of purpose — even if that means cleaning up after Fido when he’s done a number on the neighbour’s lawn.

Playing into our affinity for our pups (and giving it a charitable spin) is BarkHaus — an invite-only competition that asks renowned architects and designers to dream up their interpretation of the modern dog house, resulting in a number of original, compelling and unprecedented kennel designs.

From 21st September until 6th October, Ponsonby Central will display the mood boards and architectural models that comprise this year’s entries, and the public will be invited to vote for their favourites. The top three designs will then be scaled up, marketed by Ray White as if they were full-size human houses and auctioned off in early November at a gala to raise money for Pet Refuge New Zealand — a charity that provides temporary accommodation for pets affected by domestic violence.

Even if you classify yourself as “more of a cat person,” BarkHaus is something everyone can enjoy — whether for the innovative design it promotes or the worthy cause it supports.