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Joe Gebbia. -
The Yoshino Cedar House, an Airbnb in a rural Japanese village, is project that Joe spoke about during his talk at the Design Indaba conference in Cape Town in March. -
Built by craftspeople from the village of Yoshino, the house is a unique Airbnb with community at its core. The project was started by Joe himself, alongside Tokyo-based architect Go Hasegawa. The aim is to connect tourists with the community, and it is the first Airbnb in the world to have its own community development fund to support local artisans. -
We Talk To Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia
WORDS Lindi Brownell Meiring PHOTOS Matthew Placek, Edward Caruso Photography
VISI sat down with Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia when he visited Cape Town to speak at the annual Design Indaba conference.
“It wasn’t meant to be a business; it was [meant] to make [the] rent!” says co-founder Joe Gebbia of Airbnb’s highly successful premise.
What started as a simple means to an end in 2008 to cover the rent on Joe’s San Francisco apartment has become a worldwide phenomenon and a key player in the modern-day sharing economy. We chatted to the charismatic American entrepreneur and designer about travel, experiences, and the design thinking behind this powerhouse company.
Why do you think people should travel?
It’s one of the most powerful forms of growth and learning that somebody can experience. I think we’re all innately attracted to learning, and travel is the best source of nourishment for people’s desire to learn.
What makes travelling with Airbnb a unique experience?
You get to experience the place you travel to as if you actually lived there, which makes it a more authentic experience of the destination. There’s no facade of tourism between you and the destination. Having a key to a home in your pocket is a very empowering feeling. That sense of belonging in a place frees you up to truly experience what it has to offer. You can let your guard down. You can immerse yourself in the food and the culture and the language and the stories.
How has design played a role in the Airbnb model?
Early on we faced an incredible challenge, a bias we’ve all been taught since we were kids: Strangers equal danger. When you’re faced with a challenge, you fall back on what you know, and all we really knew was design. What they teach in design school is that design isn’t just the look and feel of something but the whole experience, so in this case we had to design Olympic-size trust between two people who’ve never met before. It begged the question: Can you design for trust? Over the years we’ve learnt that you can come to understand the mechanics of trust and you can design for that. I mean, it’s overwhelming. The fact that there are 700 000 people staying in homes tonight is mind-blowing.
How many Airbnbs have you stayed in yourself?
At least 200!
What is the most underrated country to Airbnb in?
Portugal. Lisbon is amazing, and we’ve got so many incredible places there. I stayed in an Airbnb in Lisbon about two years ago and I was just amazed by all the local touches, from the beautiful Portuguese tiles that were used throughout the property to the local soaps in the bathroom. It may be a small example, but it connects you to the place so much more than if it were generic soap. It was like there’s something novel here – the localness of this place, the context in which I’m staying is showing up through the art, the tiles and the soap.
Are there any Airbnbs in South Africa that stand out for you personally?
I’m staying on Clifton Beach and it’s amazing. I woke up this morning to the haze over the ocean, seagulls overhead and a jogger on the beach. Just being connected to nature that way felt really, really good. I didn’t want to get out of bed!
Do you have a favourite Airbnb that you’ve stayed in. If so, where?
Tough question. There’s one amazing experience I’ve had. I stayed with a family in Uruguay about two years ago and heard a remarkable story about the host family: A guest had a heart attack while he was staying with them and they had to rush him to the hospital. The doctor said if he’d gotten there 5 minutes later he wouldn’t have survived. And then the host donated his blood for the guest’s operation! The reviews are so heart-warming and you’re just like, this is incredible.
What are your three insider tips for travellers using Airbnb?
1) Stay with a host (in a private room).
2) Say yes. When your host says, “Hey, want to do this activity?” just say “Yes” and it will undoubtedly expose you to things you otherwise would never have seen.
3) Treat the home as if it were your own– give it the same respect that you would want a guest to give your home.
