Today we’d like to introduce you to Doug Burdge and Nate Garnero.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Doug and Nate. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Doug Burdge: “Nate and I are long-time friends and colleagues. We’ve both been designing and building homes in Malibu (I’m an architect, Nate is a builder) for many years. When the Woolsey wildfire struck Malibu, we called each other and figured out how we could provide immediate relief to our community. We grabbed a couple of trailers, went to Home Depot and loaded up supplies to bring to our friends and neighbors who had stayed to fight the fire. It was a rough few days, weeks, and months for those of us in Malibu. But in the midst of chaos, we were inspired to do more to help our neighbors.
That’s where Buhaus comes in. So many of the homes that we had designed and built over the years were gone. People had nowhere to go and had lost everything. We knew that people would need a temporary housing solution while they rebuilt their homes. Nate had already built several similar units from shipping containers that have been used as guest houses, studios, you name it! What could have been better than creating a unit that could be built and delivered quickly but was nice enough that someone would want to keep it around after it had served its initial purpose of providing shelter while they rebuilt? The Buhaus is a compact luxury unit made from a shipping container. It’s can be used as a living space for guests, a backyard office, studio, and so much more.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nate: “With any true startup, you are always going to face challenges. It’s just part of the game. So far, we’ve dealt with wildfires, a pandemic, city-wide shutdowns from rioting, and that’s just to scratch the surface. We’re committed to seeing this through because we see Buhaus meeting such a big need in our communities and nation.”
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Buhaus – what should we know?
When we started designing the Buhaus, it was very apparent that there were already similar units on the market. People not doing exactly the same thing, but close. The biggest difference is that we really wanted to marry the idea of utility and luxury. All the units we were seeing were inexpensive with lower quality materials to keep costs down. We wanted a unit that would be durable, utilitarian, and beautiful all at the same time. We wanted a unit that when someone had guests staying over, they would fight about who would get to stay in the Buhaus versus the guest room. Today, with the need of having to work from home, Buhaus fills that void and makes the perfect home office.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Staying true to who we are as a company is most important to our success. We were founded on the principle that minimalism doesn’t mean that you have to lose quality but can in fact be quite luxurious. If we keep that ethos at the core nature of everything we create and who we are, I believe that we can and will come up with pretty cool stuff that makes many people’s lives easier and more beautiful.
Pricing:
- Office Units will start at $49,000.00
- Luxury units at $96,000.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 24911 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265 - Website: Buhaus.com
Image Credit:
Head shot pic; Harley Martin
2nd pic of office with 2 chairs: by MDI design
3rd pic of Buhaus Unit;
Credit: Katherine Ann Rose photography
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