Faced with the housing problem, the alternative can be prefabricated houses. That is the idea that moved the co-founder of Airbnb, Joe Gebbia, now embarking on a new project: Samara, a startup dedicated to the installation of sustainable modules. “We build houses that help people dream big,” explains the company on its website, although the space is rather small, at most 55 square meters.
Samara’s homes are designed to take advantage of the backyard of American houses, with a ground floor and a large plot. At the moment, the Gebbia startup sells two types of modules: a studio and a room. The first is just over 43 square meters and comes with a kitchen, “spacious” bathroom and walk-in shower, washer/dryer combo, storage area, and space for the tenant to work. Its price, from 289,000 dollars.
Something bigger, although equally minuscule, is his second product. It is a house with only one room. It is also ready to install in no time. Samara puts an emphasis on unit design: “The room includes our signature kitchen, spacious bathroom, separate shower, washer/dryer combo, and built-in storage.” In total, 55 square meters. A too limited space, in which the kitchen touches the furniture in the living room. Its price, from 329,000 dollars.
Customers can also choose from five colors, two roof designs, and customizable windows, doors, and canopies. And a point in favor: they are low polluting. “The backyard is all-electric, consuming less than half the energy of a home of equivalent size. With the included solar panel, it works with ‘zero emissions’ by default and can even help you save on your monthly utility bill for your main home, all from clean solar energy generated in your garden.
The installation time is much less than that of a conventional house. And they promise speed and minimal inconvenience. When they place the module with a crane, they have “to partially or totally close the street during the day.” Until the entire process is complete, it takes four to six weeks, “instead of four to six months like most constructions built.”
The cost of these modular homes is approximate. The reference they give is an out-of-pocket rate for a person living in California, but it differs based on various regional factors. That is where installation permits and other administrative issues come in that could make the price more expensive.
Despite the fact that the houses designed by Gebbia are small, the startup believes that it is not too inconvenient for those interested. “Samara is a new company that sets out to improve the way we live. We build houses that help people dream big,” they say.
