The global pandemic has given new meaning to the term live-work space for many of us. Now more than ever our domestic lives are intertwined with our work lives in both physical space and time. While the pandemic has certainly sped up this trend, we have been seeing a larger shift toward blended living and working spaces in both homes and commercial offices that create diverse environments which better weave human factors of comfort, light, quiet, collaboration, and community into spaces that enable productivity. Many residential clients ask us to provide the unique spaces within their home for productivity, be it a proper office, a study nook, or a space for seclusion and focus. At the same time, commercial workspace clients have tasked us with providing varied working environments that mirror their residential counterparts like quiet working nooks and communal kitchens in addition to dedicated desk space. Here’s a few examples from our work of the spectrum of blended live-work spaces, from fully separate to seamlessly blended.
Office - Creekbluff Studio
Above: The spaces of our Creekbluff Studio are connected to the wooded site with ample views.
This home office is fully separated from the domestic sphere of the home. The experience of this office is one of being secluded in nature with views into the surrounding trees and plentiful natural light. This home office includes a variety of workspaces from a collaborative work table, to an outdoor deck, to individual offices.
Reading Room - Octant House
Above: A rendered view of our Octant House reading room, a space defined by sweeping views and natural light.
Here, natural light and wide open views create a getaway for solitude and focus. A truly special space like this one can make “going to work” a delightful and serene experience that one looks forward to Monday morning, or any time of day.
Study Nook - Interlock House
Above: A functional nook and barn door create a feature element within the living room of our Interlock House.
Layering and overlapping functions within a home can make the most of a compact footprint. This study nook is located within the center of the home, but shares the light and space of the living room. A simple barn door allows the workspace to be hidden when not in use.
Communal Kitchen - JDI Office
Above: The kitchen at our JDI Office is carefully wrapped in a custom wood screen to accentuate this key space within the office.
The heart of Jones-Dilworth, Inc.’s East Austin office is a residential-feeling kitchen. An integral space for the culture of this creative company, the kitchen is a place to share a family style meal as a team and was designed with the detail and care normally afforded to a domestic kitchen.
Layered Living / Working / Garage - Autohaus
Left: Looking from the bedroom of our Autohaus, past the office nook, to the glass wall of the living room which overlooks the garage below.
Right: View into the garage below.
Autohaus is an example of a fully hybrid live-work home, where work, hobby, and domestic life are constantly in communication with one another through layered physical spaces. The living space of this home (including its office nook) is set atop a multi-car garage and workshop. The cantilevered bedroom volume creates a carport below, while the living room has a glass wall allowing views into the garage below.