What is Live/Work?
Though it is new to Washington, the concept of live/work has existed in the U.S. since just after World War II, when the center of the international art world moved from Paris to New York City. The high cost of maintaining separate residential and studio spaces led artists to seek space in which they could both live and work. Many found the naturally-lit, open floor plans of vacant SoHo warehouses to meet their needs both aesthetically and economically. The “SoHo loft” is now one of the most sought-after housing types in cities around the world, and it’s not just for artists anymore.
The live/work concept has evolved from artists’ housing into an economically attractive option for freelance professionals and entrepreneurs who would rather not carry the costs of separate living and office spaces. SOLEA brings this new way of living (and working) to Washington, DC, where an increasing percentage of the workforce telecommutes and countless local entrepreneurs choose to grow businesses out of home offices.
Advances in information technology and broadband telecommunications only partially meet the needs of those who work from home. The flexible design of a live/work floor plan takes the home office one step farther by distinguishing living from working spaces so that business meetings need not be conducted in messy kitchens.
A SOLEA resident receives much more than is offered by typical condo living. A SOLEA resident will live better, work smarter, and own it all.
To see how your SOLEA condominium can accommodate a live/work lifestyle, review the sample floor plan conversions on the Features page.
Live Better
Seventy-percent of all car travel is attributed to commuting. In DC, where federal government employees commute from as far away as Delaware, time spent in the car easily exceeds time spent at home with family and friends. For those wishing to reclaim excessive hours spent in the car, the live/work concept offers a “zero-commute” lifestyle that doesn’t include big commutes and small cubicles.
Work Smarter
The economic appeal of live/work is the elimination of need for separate home and office spaces. By reducing space-related overhead costs, it is easier to start and expand small businesses, and telecommuters can experience higher productivity. Live/work developments can also provide valuable networking and resource-sharing opportunities through natural exchanges with neighbors. SOLEA offers the opportunity to create super-local business clusters in the same building, which reflects a larger belief that lasting communities are built around people living and working closely together.
Own it All!
Live/work housing acknowledges that people, not institutions, cultivate authenticity and diversity, both of which have been identified as the most sought-after place amenities in 21st century cities. Without the need for and cost of renting office space, SOLEA residents can build equity in their home and business. The ownership model provides equity gains and tax benefits, both of which may even provide the cash-flow boost required to manage small business growth.