HOME WORK

Designing for a changing world of employment

THE WORK FROM HOME movement triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be much more than a trend, raising the question of how home builders should present a live-work residence that can enhance both productivity and family life.

But there are options aplenty, be it from a retrofit or new build perspective. For example, the transformation of the garage into a functional office can provide convenient exterior access. This option is also less resource intensive and less costly since the structure is already part of the home.

In smaller homes or apartments, residual spaces can be used for a unique office setting. Beneath a staircase, for example, can provide a convenient, intimate work area. Large, shallow closets and cabinets can also be converted into an office by adding adequate task lighting, shelving units and a desk, and can easily be hidden away with a sliding door at the end of the workday.

A home with high ceilings could accommodate a mezzanine or loft-style office configuration on the ground floor. Because this design focuses on an elevated component, floor space within the home can be entirely conserved. The mezzanine will give the homeowner the feeling of an open-floor concept when looking down at the living area below while enjoying more privacy.

If more office space is desired, the basement or attic can be tapped, while offering quiet and privacy. The basement configuration can also accommodate client meetings adequately. The addition of a separate side door leading into a basement office can ensure homeowner privacy. However, outdoor seasonal environmental conditions may be important to consider when selecting the location of the workspace. For example, a basement workspace may need more heating during the winter, while an attic workspace may require an air conditioning system in the summer.

In some cases, a home can accommodate several employees in addition to the owners. How would such place look? Russell and Rame Hruska designed a building that houses their architecture office and family home on a vacant infill lot in Houston, Texas. Their firm, Intexure Architects, moved from a downtown warehouse to an urban neighbourhood. The design combines a studio on the ground floor with living space on the second storey. With the ability to substitute travel time with telecommuting, while incorporating ‘green’ construction principles, they show genuine commitment to sustainable living in an automobile-dependent city like Houston.

The two-storey home, measuring 2,200 square feet, is minimally decorated and uses locally purchased materials such as steel columns and wooden flooring and ceiling coverings. The office’s 20-foot ceiling and wall-towall windows creates an open space, while providing a work area for up to 12 employees. Spaces like the second-floor materials library were created as multipurpose areas. During the day, the table can accommodate a meeting overlooking the office space below, while in the evening, it can be used as a dining table for the family. The second-floor kitchen also offers flexibility, as one can prepare a meal without interrupting activities in the working spaces.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a paradigm shift that had already been underway for quite some time. Society has collectively made the return to a variation of the preindustrial lifestyle, where living and work activities are coupled under the same roof. OHB

Avi Friedman IS AN ARCHITECT, PROFESSOR, AUTHOR AND SOCIAL OBSERVER. AVI.FRIEDMAN@MCGILL.CA