A historical example of a home/work space

A lot of people have made the switch to working from home because of Coronavirus. The change is prompting a closer look at how to design homes that can provide both a home and work space. It is tricky but could become something that house builders and architects need to address. After all, working from home could be here to stay, especially for industries like computing.  

The issue

Architects LondonA concern with most modern homes is there is not a great deal of space available to allow someone to dedicate a space to working. Not everyone will have a spare bedroom or be willing to give up the dining room. It could also be costly to look at things like loft conversions, extensions, or even creating or converting a basement.

So, that raises the question of how should we design new homes to make this space available. There are a number of potential ideas here. One historical example could be a really good idea.

Home/work space

In Shoreditch there is a fantastic row of artisan homes that date back to 1862. These properties are now Grade II but the designs would work surprisingly well for current needs. Each property has a good size basement that was originally for a workshop. Above on the ground floor is a shop front. Then, on top of that are three floors for a home.

This kind of design would work really well today. It would be especially effective because the properties could have plenty of space for work and living but with a relatively small footprint. That kind of design would be excellent for big towns and cities that lack space.

Many people will be thinking that basements would be a depressing place to work if they had to set up an office at home. However, with a good design they can be bright, airy, and a really nice part of the property. The days of dark, damp basements that are only fit for storage are well and truly gone.

Work with top architects in London

At Coffey Architects we appreciate how much inspiration historical properties can give. They can inspire designs, layouts, and grand architecture. The idea of designing properties with a generous piece of space for home working is a really good one.

If you are planning a project and would like to work with top architects, London has few companies as good as us. We can enhance your design and give you the best support at every stage of the job. So, get in touch today to tell us what you have in mind.