Today we’re excited to be connecting with Jared Haas again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.
Jared, thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
I’m the owner of Black Rabbit, a design-build firm based in Austin, TX, where we’ve been producing unique and purposeful spaces since 2011. Our studio specializes in creating authentic living environments across a wide spectrum of project typologies, from residential and commercial, to mixed-use developments. If you’re curious about how I got here, my “origin story” is covered in the original interview.
As design professionals, we create within the constraints and possibilities presented by our clients, budgets, regulations, and the specific conditions of each site. Here in Austin, and across most of the U.S., cities and suburban surroundings have traditionally been shaped by Euclidean zoning, which separates uses like residential from commercial projects. This segregation forces reliance on cars and inhibits the creation of vibrant, walkable, and socially connected communities. However, Austin has only recently begun to explore more flexible regulatory options, starting with allowance of smaller residential units and smaller minimum lot sizes. The City is currently discussing allowances for integrating certain commercial uses within residential areas. This shift is exciting because it opens the door to building more socially connected and dynamic environments for people to live, work, and interact in a more integrated and holistic way. In the meantime, we continue to work with clients to apply as many of our authentic living principles to individualized projects as possible.
Awesome, so we reached out because we wanted to hear all about what you have been up to since we last connected.
Since our original interview, we’ve completed our first design-build-develop project rooted in the principles of authentic living. By stepping into the role of the client ourselves, we were able to push creative boundaries and showcase a vision that goes beyond what you typically see in Austin. We transformed an existing mid-century home into a sustainable compound. We utilized passive solar concepts and seamlessly blended the indoor and outdoor spaces with expansive glass pocketing sliding doors. All interior walls and ceilings are finished with American Clay plaster, a material that not only adds a unique old world aesthetic but also naturally regulates humidity, ionizes the air, and is both zero-VOC and mold-resistant.
This project represents a new standard of design and sustainability to stand as a precedent and stepping stone for future projects. The home is currently for sale near the SoCo district of south Austin, offering a rare opportunity to own an eco-conscious property in this part of town (see friartuck.co).
We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.
- Favorite Movie: City of God
- Favorite Book: Currently “Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin
- Favorite TV Show: All-time, and unequivocally, The Wire
- Favorite Band or Artist: Currently Sigur Ros; all-time Pink Floyd
- Sweet or Savory: Both or either
- Mountains or Beach: Both or either
- Favorite Sport (to watch): Never watch sports
- Favorite Sport (to play): Soccer or boxing
- Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Soccer, boxing, baseball, basketball, tennis, equestrianism, golf, ultimate frisbee, probably more since I was very active!
- As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: It changed often as I had a variety of interests, especially in arts & sciences.
- French Fries or Onion Rings: Its more about the “how” than the “what”. If the fries are done well, Im all in.
- Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Who?
- Favorite Cartoon growing up: Secret of Nimh
- Favorite Childhood movie: Outsiders
- Favorite Breakfast Food: Cereal
What do you want people to remember about you and your brand? What are some of things that you feel are most important, unique, special, etc?
I’m at peace with the idea of fading into obscurity, as long as I’ve left behind a legacy of spaces that continue to enhance and inspire future generations. Much like how I, someone without a musical background, might feel a deep, unspoken connection to a song, I hope that the people who interact with our environments experience that same sense of resonance without needing to dissect or analyze why. To me, this effortless connection is the truest form of success and the kind of legacy I aim to build.
While my firm and I have made meaningful contributions to the built environment, we’re driven by a larger ambition: to bring the principles of authentic living to life on a grander scale. We envision creating unified mixed-use and sustainable communities that integrate living, working, and social spaces in a way that fosters connection and well-being. Our goal is for this model to serve as a replicable blueprint, adaptable not only across the U.S., but globally, shaping communities for generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackrabbit.co
- Instagram: blackrabbit_co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackrabbit.austin/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-rabbit-design
Image Credits
Leonid Furmansky
Chase Daniel
