President of philaLAB LLC, George Najm, took some time to talk to Examiner.com about LABhaus, green design and Philadelphia’s real estate market. The baintrust of LABhaus thought deeply about our lifestyle so that we don’t have to fuss; they paid attention to our needs without sacrificing our wants thereby encouraging us to support their motto “enjoy life responsibly.” LABhaus markets sustainable urban living in a package tighter, more refined and more efficient than the body of a triathlete.
“LABhaus is trying to make some very clear and raw arguments about value, quality, and innovation…” Said Najm, “as such, there really isn't any room for ill-conceived moves. Every single component is vetted for quality, value, and innovation (all of which indicate 'sustainability'). The wall system, for example, is a true R40. It's absolutely unheard of in anything near this price point. But it's implemented in a way that's totally unobtrusive and will make a real positive impact on consumers.”
Najm correlates the building industry to other rapidly reproducing technology:
The dominance of the financial and marketing in housing has really balkanized it relative to other material cultures in our economy. If you look at the incredible sophistication of a smart phone, for example, you see incredibly advanced products readily available to ordinary consumers and incredible market discourse-- for example between the 'walled garden' of the iPhone OS and the 'open ecology' of Android. In housing, we have a lot of hype, hubris, and shattered promises. Whether presented as a get-rich-quick scheme, a nostalgic retreat to a simpler time, or as the cure for any number of social anxieties, the actual physical stuff of housing is often not given the scrutiny a used car would receive before being purchased.
Astonishingly, the built prices for the citified LABhaus homes are on par with some of the least expensive in the Delaware Valley. By reconsidering standard building practices, they are positioned to become a leader in branded sustainable housing. LABhaus’ product is fashionable enough to compete with the upper echelons of the housing market but wades in the shallow end of the price pool. Najm argues:
I hate the term 'affordable housing;' I think it's incredibly condescending. We are interested in 'rationally priced' housing. Going forward, the price tag will be determined [by] the lowest price at which we can possibly produce a top-quality product plus the cost of keeping the lights on…In terms of design, I have no interest in 'dumbing' down design for the 'masses.' I think that people are far more sophisticated than they are given credit for being. Just look again at consumer electronics or cars or fashion. There are manifold examples of horrible design, but there are also examples of incredibly brilliant design all around us. If someone wants a frumpy house, there are plenty of options, but there is so little quality design in the housing sector that I really don't think there is any market reason to 'hold back.'
LABhaus is on to something – rationally priced housing that is worth living in. “I certainly don't intend to house all 6B people in the world. So certainly we are excluding most.” Confides Najm, “But we don't really see ourselves as pigeon-holed going forward at all.” When asked about the still insular nature of sustainable building, Najm confesses “'Green' housing has been pretty cultish in the past and we are largely disinterested in that tradition. We just want to make housing that is lovely and makes a damned lot of sense. As we get into our stride, I don't think you will have to belong to a certain tribe or have swallowed a red pill or blue pill to live in our homes. I hope that people want them because they are the best option for them, period.”
Not one for a quick buck, LABhaus dedicated the last five years to vetting their product; as a result, today’s LABhaus home is jockeying to become “the first serious [US] national brand of sustainable housing.” Najm considers good design a byproduct of well-executed, intelligent architecture and quality material selection. Although LABhaus’ main focus is to provide the highest caliber homes to the sensible cognoscenti, Najm does not feel design should be weighed by money or status. In fact, he feels “[design is] mainly about clearing away the noise, and focusing on a few pieces that have a soul.”
LABhaus integrates the essential, unglam elements into their designs including those out-of-sights like broom closets and laundry rooms. Thoughtfulness is recurrent in the LABhaus process. Beyond the superficial, it’s evident that ample forethought precedes building to ensure “the look doesn’t fall apart once a family’s life takes over.”
LABhaus is working on raising their profile in Philadelphia and plans to leverage their current successes into larger scale projects in the future. “After maintaining a relatively low profile in the city” Najm says “I think that the next round will be a watershed moment for our group and the philosophies that guide us.”
Follow LABhaus on Twitter for up to date information and upcoming local projects: http://twitter.com/LABhaus
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