Homes that Work
The Architecture for home working parents and childeren in dense cities
K. Omar (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
T.W. Kupers – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
F. Adema – Mentor (TU Delft - Building Product Innovation)
A.M. Kockelkorn – Mentor (TU Delft - Public Building and Housing Design)
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Abstract
The research looks into the historical development of the old building type that combines live and work; what Frances Holliss (2015) states to be a ‘workhome’. The relevance and resurgence of this typology in the context of a globalized economy and informational era, causes the homebased workforce to grow rapidly. This growth has increased after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic as it imposed home-based work on a large scale. During the curfews and movement restrictions, the workplace was squeezed into a monofunctional designed dwelling and so affected the live-work balance negatively in several ways. This is especially the case for home working parents with young children, due to family life distraction. With a future forecast that 67% of the workforce view they will work more regularly from home post-Covid-19. It urges to question current housing design and a rearrangement of the dwelling to support wage work and care work in the same place. The design for Merwehaven offers suitable homes for home working parents and children living in M4H, and addresses the issue of young urban families leaving the city to the suburbs. Their presence is essential for the vitality and quality of life in the city.