A small black dog with star-shaped sunglasses sits inside a wooden dog house on a green blanket at an outdoor event.
A modern orange wooden cat tree with three platforms, each with a triangular opening, and a cat sitting on the middle platform.

GOOD DESIGN SAVES LIVES

PEOPLE AND PETS!

THE TALL TAIL OF BARKITECTURE™

Barkitecture™ began in 2018 with a simple but powerful idea: use custom pet architecture as a creative way to support local animal rescues while celebrating the value of good design. What started as a grassroots concept quickly became a design competition that challenges architects, designers, and creative minds to design and build one-of-a-kind pet architecture, auctioned to benefit rescue organizations in their communities.

In 2019, the first Triangle Barkitecture™ event brought together design teams from across North Carolina for a one-day showcase celebrating architecture, pets, and purpose. Each structure was auctioned with all proceeds supporting local rescues, while the event itself created a platform to highlight adoptable pets and connect them with potential families. As Barkitecture™ grew, so did its impact, evolving from a single event into the foundation for Barkitecture Events, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding this model into more communities.

Today, Barkitecture™ is more than a competition. It is a celebration of creativity, compassion, and community engagement that uses design as a tool to support rescues, raise awareness, and help more pets find their forever homes.

A person holding a small, light-colored puppy in their hands.

BARKITECTURE™

BY THE NUMBERS

SINCE 2018:

$158,000+

RAISED TO SUPPORT LOCAL PET RESCUES

28

RESCUES APPEARING AT BARKITECTURE EVENTS

62

UNIQUE PET ARCHITECTURE DESIGNS AUCTIONED OFF

And every event bringing together designers, volunteers, rescue partners, and communities with one shared goal: supporting pets in need through thoughtful design. Are you ready to join in?

WHAT’S AHEAD?

BARKITECTURE VISION

As Barkitecture Events continues to grow, our strategic plan helps ensure that our work remains intentional, impactful, and grounded in our mission.

Barkitecture Events engages designers and communities in creating custom pet architecture that fuels rescue missions and inspires advocacy to advance pet welfare through design.

Guided by this mission, our strategic plan focuses on expanding Barkitecture into new communities, strengthening partnerships with rescue organizations, building a sustainable nonprofit foundation, and using design as a platform for education and advocacy.

Together, these priorities shape how Barkitecture Events grows: thoughtfully, creatively, and with purpose.

Explore our Strategic Plan

A puppy being carried as part of Barkitecture Events’ strategic plan graphic, representing growth, care, and community impact through design.
Pattern of various line-drawn animals and objects on a blue background, including fishbowl with fish, rabbits, fish, dogs, rats, crabs, mice, and snakes.
Joshua Thomasson, President and Founder of Barkitecture Events, a nonprofit supporting design and pet rescue.

Joshua Thomasson

PRESIDENT & FOUNDER

Shawna Varichak, board member of Barkitecture Events, a nonprofit supporting design and pet rescue.

Shawna Varichak

DIRECTOR 

Scott Krabath, board member of Barkitecture Events, a nonprofit supporting design and pet rescue.

Scott Krabath

DIRECTOR 

Maggie Lawson

DIRECTOR 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

  • Vivian Chiang

  • Lindsay Elliot

  • Dharshyani Jackson

  • Jon Jackson

  • Megan Kaufmann

  • Rachael Kelley

  • Alex Krabath

  • Anne Lebo

  • Brittany Larsen

  • Blaine Neu

A happy Siberian Husky with blue eyes, black and white fur, standing on green grass, looking up at the camera.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

By hosting a Barkitecture™ event, you’re helping to give a voice to those unable to speak for themselves. Barkitecture™ gives adoptable pets the opportunity to model award-winning designs from some of the best local designers and have their stories told one event at a time.

host an event
A dog wearing a red vest and blue bandana standing under a wooden and glass structure at an event. A sign reads "BARKITECTURE BRANDING GUIDE."

GET THE GUIDE

READY TO HOST YOUR EVENT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

This branding guide serves as an introduction to our event, but the true success of Barkitecture™ relies on its volunteers and their excitement to make a difference in our communities through pet rescue.

HOST AN EVENT
Group of people celebrating outdoors with a high five, standing under a red canopy, wearing matching blue T-shirts.