A lot can change in ten years, including our understanding of what home means. When Cohabs began taking shape in Brussels in 2016, its founders imagined shared living as something more meaningful than simply splitting an address. A decade later, that idea has reached Hamilton Heights, New York, where the company has opened its first Lab House. The project looks towards the future, but its starting point feels familiar: what makes a place feel like home, and who helps us feel that we belong?
At 410 West 146th Street, Belgian designer Lionel Jadot, Cohabs’ Chief Design Officer, has shaped the interiors with an eye on the neighbourhood beyond the front door. Hamilton Heights has a rich cultural history, with jazz woven into its identity and a creative spirit that has long animated this corner of Harlem. Jadot brings that influence inside, creating a home with a personality of its own, where contemporary design feels connected to the place and the people around it.
“Cohabs is about more than creating beautiful places to live. It’s about bringing people together and creating the conditions for meaningful connections and a true sense of belonging,” explains Lionel Jadot. That philosophy is reflected in the interiors, where comfort and character go hand in hand. Wood gives the communal kitchen a familiar feel, while stainless steel adds a contemporary edge. Green cabinetry brings colour to a room designed for everyday use.
Belgian designer Adeline Jadot also contributes to this atmosphere with a series of bespoke rugs inspired by the neighbourhood’s jazz heritage. Their colours and expressive patterns bring warmth and personality to the interiors, creating another connection to the cultural history of Hamilton Heights. The rooms balance the small rituals of everyday life with the wider design concept.
The Lab House is also an experiment in how homes hold up over time. Cohabs will observe how materials and furnishings perform once residents begin using them, testing everything from custom furniture and joinery developed with MODJO to energy systems. The results will inform future properties, allowing the company to make decisions based on residents’ experiences and the performance of the design in use.
The experiment has specific targets, including a 30% reduction in energy consumption per house. Cohabs also aims to reduce maintenance requests by 15% and repair costs by 15 to 20%. The project puts these sustainability claims to the test, using what works—and what does not—to shape future decisions.
“The Lab House gives us the freedom to test ideas in real life and understand what genuinely improves the way our members live. It is about making our houses more efficient and durable, but also more personal, more creative and more connected to the neighbourhood around them,” explains Youri Dauber, Cohabs’ co-founder and CEO.
The Lab House’s opening party offered an early view of its communal spaces in use, with guests gathering throughout the house. The property is also intended to welcome local creatives and neighbours, extending its community beyond those who live there.
Sharing a home does not mean sharing every moment. Privacy remains essential, particularly for people navigating new cities and changing routines. Cohabs sums up its outlook with the line “Raw community. Intentional habitats. Live like you mean it.” Ten years after its beginnings in Brussels, the company continues to explore what living together can look like. The Lab House’s design may be complete, but the experience of its residents will help determine what comes next.
