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The Embassy, located in San Francisco, California, represents a pioneering effort in intentional community living. As part of the larger Embassy Network, it offers a blend of communal living, shared resources, and collaborative social experimentation. Since its founding in 2012, it has sought to create an alternative social structure rooted in the principles of sharing and community.
Overview
Location
- Address: 399 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA [Redfin Property Details]
- Situated in the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant counterculture scene.
Mission and Values
The Embassy’s core mission is centered around building a “commons and exploring what commoning can become,” emphasizing a departure from traditional models of resource allocation and social interaction. [Embassy Network Blog] This involves a deliberate focus on sharing resources, time, and living space, with the ultimate goal of fostering an “open, creative society.” [Embassy Network] Central to their philosophy is the belief that “living together, and building a life in common, we can reclaim alienated time, labor, finances and sociality that the default world deprives us of,” suggesting a desire to redefine social structures from the ground up.
History
Founding and Evolution
The Embassy was founded in 2012 by Jessy Kate Schingler, a former NASA scientist, and Rob Schingler, the founder of Planet Labs, along with several friends. What began as a modest experiment with a spare bedroom in a community house has since evolved into a network of houses spanning multiple locations. The San Francisco location, situated at 399 Webster Street, has been continuously operational for over a decade, marking it as a long-standing experiment in communal living within the Bay Area.
Key Individuals
Key figures within The Embassy community include:
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Jessy Kate Schingler: As a founder, Jessy Kate brings a unique perspective to community organization, describing Network life as being “immersed in a state of learning, sharing, and mutual support with others, [being] intentional with how I construct my everyday environment,” and using “space as a platform for exploring new approaches to how we organize ourselves as humans.” [Embassy Network Blog]
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Zarinah Agnew: Self-described as the “commune communista” at Embassy SF, Zarinah was drawn to The Embassy by its potential to build meaningful collaborative projects and its focus on “changing the way we live.” She brings experience from various intentional communities, including squats and a boat community, and opposes imposed hierarchical structures.
Physical Space
Building Characteristics
The Embassy is housed in a historic structure located at 399 Webster Street in San Francisco. Built in 1900, the early 20th-century mansion spans 5,850 square feet on a 0.11-acre lot. [Redfin Property Details] The two-story, wood-constructed building is classified as a Single Family Residence/Townhouse with four full bathrooms, providing ample space for the community. Its substantial size and layout have made it ideally suited for adaptation into a co-living space that can comfortably accommodate approximately 18-20 residents.
Notable Features
The physical space reflects the community’s experimental nature. The house features a blend of shared and private rooms designed to balance communal interaction with personal space, acknowledging that “despite living in density, many of us are introverts.” [Embassy Network] According to media reports, the property includes some unexpected amenities, such as 3-D printers and a bowling alley in the basement.
Community Life and Organization
Life at The Embassy is structured to create a balance between private and shared experiences. The community hosts regular events, which ensure “a continual flow of people, culture and dialogue,” promoting an environment of shared learning and growth. Domestic responsibilities are approached with a lighthearted attitude, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that “whatever happens in the current unfolding geopolitical crises, that someone has both done all the dishes and replaces the toilet roll,” reflecting a practical approach to the challenges of communal living. [Embassy Network Blog]
Network Relationships
Embassy Network
The Embassy is part of a larger network of communities known as the Embassy Network, which encompasses shared houses across North America, Latin America, and Europe. [Embassy Network] This network connection offers residents opportunities for mobility and the cross-pollination of ideas between different communities.
Local Context
The San Francisco location exists within a city with an estimated 50 communal houses, positioning it within a vibrant local ecosystem of alternative living arrangements. While The Embassy was established during an earlier wave of co-living experimentation, the model has since gained broader traction, with commercial players like WeWork and Common entering the market alongside traditional property developers.
Impact and Recognition
Media Attention
The Embassy has received notable media attention over the years. Media coverage has highlighted both the community’s alternative approach to organizing shared space and the personalities of its leading members. [Embassy Network Blog]
Influence
The community’s unique combination of physical space and social organization has positioned it as a model referenced in discussions about co-living. It has been showcased as an exemplar of how large homes can be repurposed for collaborative living.
Contact
- Websites:
- embassy-house.org (Under Construction)
- embassynetwork.com