What defines Live/Work?
Live/work spaces are appearing at an
Examining design approaches also
alarming rate throughout the country. Type these
furthers the difference between live/work projects
words into any internet search engine, and a
from solely residential or commercial programs.
plethora of interesting and innovating projects will
How the work space is utilized, the location of the
appear. But while many live/work projects have
work space in relationship to the living space, and
appeared throughout history, what defines these
what the boundary is between those two spaces is
spaces as live/work today?
different for each project according to their scale.
Our study is divided into three basic
Because of this, we analyze each unit
parts: definitions, an analysis of the sub-types, and
through a series of diagrams focusing on certain
the future of live/work.
design aspects of each space. The methods we
In the first section, we survey the various
chose for analysis are:
definitions of live/work, both in the market place
User access patterns
and in the state and city building and zoning codes.
Separation
Aspects like the required ratio of live/work, the type
Balance of live/work
of work permitted, and what goods are sold in the
Furthermore, we study any additional
unit, indicate the differences of live/work projects
features that are unique for each design as well as
from those that are purely residential or purely
precedents to show the distinction of each unit.
commercial.
In our third section, we look to the future
In the second section, we categorize all
of live/work. We analyze projects that reflect this
the examples we have identified into sub-types. In
new direction such as IDEO and the Flex House.
our research, we discovered that live/work is not a
This pattern book is not a how-to, but a
single building or unit type. Instead, it is a loosely
survey that illustrates everything that is called live/
connected series of strategies combining live and
work, cataloging all of the significant strategies that
work needs.
have been used. This book is aimed to further
Because there is no defined type, we separate each live/work project into four scales:
define live/work. It is intended for designers or anyone else interested in wanting to understand
Studio/loft
the code and market definitions along with different
Home office
design issues associated with a live/work project.
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