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Kindred: A Home-Swapping App | 2023
Kindred: A Home-Swapping App | 2023


Designer: Kindred Design Team, Kindred Concepts Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
Manufacturer: Kindred Concepts Inc., San Francisco, California, USA


Kindred is a members-only home swapping network that harnesses the power of community to unlock a new kind of lifestyle that’s richer with travel and human connection. By exchanging their homes and apartments with trusted peers, both renters and owners alike can access the opportunity to travel freely between vetted, off-market homes.

It is designed for real people sharing their real homes with each other, not property managers or vacation rentals. There are already plenty of “pay to get” options for travel — Kindred is the first platform where people who give more are the ones who get more, instead of just the ones who pay more. Every guest is also a host, so everyone has skin in the game, which creates an environment of mutual trust and accountability.

For the app, Kindred’s team developed a proprietary matching technology that represents a breakthrough in the home swapping and travel industry. The matching algorithm works by taking into account a variety of factors, including location, availability, and member preferences, to suggest the most relevant and attractive home swap opportunities for each member. This ensures that members are paired with homes that meet their specific needs and desires and that the home swapping process is as efficient and enjoyable as possible.

The program outlined by the developer only included office space and parking. Working closely with the client to redefine and reprogram, we recommended the inclusion of a civic space that engages the community and blurs the boundaries of the site to extend the urban fabric. The result is a project that opens itself up to the community, physically and perceptively.


Kindred: A Home-Swapping App | 2023
Kindred: A Home-Swapping App | 2023

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