Folding glass walls, natural lighting…Kulfu City creates luxury residential and commercial green buildings

In Culver City, Los Angeles, an innovative mixed-use development called “Habitat” is currently under construction, blending office, residential, and retail spaces with a strong focus on eco-friendly design. Featuring natural elements and folding glass walls, this project is set to become LA’s first newly built office building to earn LEED Platinum certification.

Situated at 3401 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Habitat is expected to wrap up by 2026. The development includes a six-story office building with 253,000 square feet of space, a twelve-story residential building comprising 260 units, and 2,900 square feet dedicated to retail on the ground floor. Additionally, nearly one acre of open space will be integrated into the project, providing a green oasis for both residents and office workers.

We had the opportunity to speak with the project developers to delve deeper into this exciting venture. They shared that the creative office building will feature 50,000 square feet per floor, with a ceiling height of 14 feet and abundant natural light, alongside cascading terraces. The folding glass walls will facilitate a fluid indoor-outdoor experience, illustrating the project’s dedication to a nature-centric approach.

Inside the office space, you can expect a welcoming lobby with various gathering areas, a fitness center, and a locker room complete with showers tailored for bicycle commuters. The residential building will host luxurious studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, each with outdoor spaces and amenities inspired by high-end hotels and wellness themes. The outdoor park and walking paths will offer secluded seating and public gathering spots, effectively linking the two terrace-equipped buildings to nearby amenities.

A primary aim of Habitat is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions throughout both its construction and operational stages. The development will be well-connected to Los Angeles Metro stations and the Expo bike path, promoting walkability. Other sustainable features include a 125kW integrated solar array, 64 dedicated electric vehicle parking spaces, 222 secure bike storage spots, a natural ventilation system, and the use of low-carbon concrete.

Real estate developer Lendlease, in collaboration with its partner Aware Super, successfully secured $316 million in construction funding for Habitat. Furthermore, it received density bonus incentives that allowed for a larger residential building than originally zoned. In return, 22 housing units will be designated as extremely low-income affordable housing, along with an additional 7 units reserved for workforce housing.

With expectations of achieving LEED Gold certification for the residential section, Habitat’s office component is striving to be the first newly constructed office building in Los Angeles to attain LEED Platinum certification. This ambitious project marks a crucial advancement in sustainable urban development.