FALL 2009

LIVE/WORK
Northeastern University School of Architecture
ARCH G691 Graduate Degree Project Studio
FALL 2009

LIVE/WORK
Northeastern University School of Architecture
ARCH G691 Graduate Degree Project Studio

JESSE CABRERA
ROB CAYER
JULIET CHUN
NAWAZ KAMTHEWALA
KATHRYN MOORE
BEN-JOSEF STRACCO
KAITLYN WOLK
Table of Contents
A. Introduction
History 6

B. Definitions
Market 10
Regulatory Code 12

C. Typical Live/Work

S tudio Loft 20

H ome Office 32

G round Floor Workspace 44

C ommunity 56

D. New Ideas
IDEO 70
Flex House 72

E. Comparison
Matrix 74
Introduction
 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 define live/work. It is intended for designers or
separate each live/work project into four scales: 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.
Ground floor workspace
Community
History

The history of Live/Work has a long and com- his home. This allows for an easier lifestyle and no
plicated time line. The origins of Live/Work, if we commute to work.
want to get technical, can be traced back to the The 1960’s saw the growth of the ‘Yuppie”
days of the cavemen. However, the first real homo- type of community and the boom of artists. In
erectus application of Live/Work can be seen in the search for a workspace, artists looked for the most
Colonial Farmhouse of the 18th and 19th economic way to conduct their work. They found
Centuries. Specifically looking at the farmhouses usefulness in old shipping containers and railroad
of Maine, these farmhouses had the living quarters head cars that were abandoned after WWII. These
and the barn connected. With the harsh winters in shipping containers allowed artists a space to do
Main, this connection between the work and live work, and sleep if necessary. At the same time, art-
aspects of the farm gives hint to the concept of ists found use in abandoned warehouses that were
Live/Work. However; for the purpose of this brief used for weapon and aircraft storage production.
historical overview, the time frame from the 1950’s These large warehouses allowed for large working
to the Present and Beyond will be used as it shows spaces for multiple people artists at one time, cre-
the major progression of the concept of Live work. ating a form of community.
The 1950’s saw the first popular work of a Due to governmental pressures and sanctions
Live/Work type in a doctors office integrated into a in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the artist com-
house. Designed by Le Corbusier, the Curutchet munity was forced to leave their habitats in search
House starts to explore two different functions for for new living and working arrangements. As they
the same person in one structure. The owner of moved into the downtown area, they realized the
the house has his doctoral practice imbedded into potential of living in a space that contained

Curuchet House Containers / Warehouses SoHo

< 1950 1960 1970
 both space for their work, and for their sleeping With the popularity of these new innovative spaces
quarters all wrapped up into one. This drive and the design specifically for the artists, the advent of the
realization that these spaces would be affordable first ground -up constructed Live/Work building
and practical led to the creation of Live/Work dis- came to fruition in 1987.
tricts, most notably SOHO in New York. The 1990’s brought the concept of com-
The new found affordability for artists in munity back into perspective. Not only has Live/
the downtown area of major cities in the 1970’s, Work boomed in the past decade, but it has now
accompanied by the business boom, led to the idea spread to the rest of the culture to people asides
of the Sprawling City in the 1980’s. For those who from artists. Communities are built up in a setting
could afford it at the time, they left the congestion of that consists of big complexes that have living units
the city to the suburbs where they established resi- and a large shared studio space. Communities are
dences. It was shortly realized that by sprawling to also built up like the old SOHO district, with retail
the outskirts of the city that it started to cause an and offices on the ground floor and living space for
issue with transportation towards downtown, and the owner on the upper floors. With the growing
not to mention the cost of commuting. People use of technology, the instability of the economy,
started to live and work from home with the advent and the cost of commuting further rationalizes the
of technology such as the fax machine and later on positive concepts for Live/Work
the computer. As the new century rolls around, we look
The 1980’s also saw the start of sanctions towards the future of Live/Work. We have seen the
being put on the concept of Live/Work, which boom in popularity with this typology, and have
started the eviction of some artists from their loft adjusted to its growing needs. It has been proven
spaces. Developers at the time started to take that for many people, Live/Work has been a suc-
notice the popularity of the Live/Work concept, and cessful lifestyle. With this knowledge, we look to
started to retrofit old mills to keep up with the new the flexibility of the space. We can see houses be
sanctions. These mill conversions were designed built with moveable partitions to adjust to specific
around the needs of the artists, with a place for liv- functions, or extended stay hotel rooms that adapt
ing functions and a place for them to do their work, as a flexible office or live space. From what was
all at an affordable price. once nonexistent, to a narrow definition, to a now
broad definition; we look towards the future of Live/
Work.

Soma Sprawling City / Mill Conversions Community Housing / Flex Spaces

1980 1990 2000 >
Definitions
 The market definition focuses on how realtors
define a live/work space. Words highlighted in the
diagrams are terms that continued to re-appear fre-
quently. As opposed to the regulatory definitions,
the market definition illustrates the benefits of live/
work in a way that appeals to the public.
The International Building Code defines live/
work in a quantitative way. It describes how the
space should be built, designed, and what factors
need to be taken into account in order for a project
to be designated as live/work.
The zoning code differs in each city. After
researching various districts in different regions of
the country, we focused on three main factors of
each zoning code: the amount of work space
required, whether signage is permitted, and
whether parking is required. These three distin-
guishing factors reveals how the city considers live/
work and whether it is trying to keep certain areas
more residential or commercial.
Market Definition

Business & Personal needs

Customization

Shorter commutes
Layout fl exibility

Walkability

Downtown living
Deduct work from taxes
One mortgage
Old warehouse

Hardwood floors
Separate entrances
Affordable

Centrally located
Eco-friendly at low cost
Expense reduction
Artists

Amenities
Storefront

Exposed brick
Since live work is still a relatively new concept

High ceilings
the definitions imposed by the real estate market
are extremely influential. The diagrams here attempt
to graphically evaluate common words and phrases
appearing in the market descriptions. It is possible
to conclude from these graphics that certain fea-
tures are more attractive than others when consid-
ering design decisions and spatial layouts within live
work units. Reoccurring Themes Financial Benefi ts Materials/Features Lifestyle Benefi ts
 The reoccurring definitions of Live/Work units
create a better understanding of the types of activ-
ities the units would foster. These words incite
imagery in terms of a further definition of the Live/
Work type, as shown in the diagram.
Zoning Codes

SIGN

Today, cities are seeing a growth in the The diagram on the next page shows various cities and which of those six factors they
number of live/work units. For some, this has chose to focus on in their zoning code. CitiesSIGN
in gray indicate areas which had no live/work
SIGN
been seen as a natural growth with the rising costs definition stated in their zoning code.
of rents and the loss of jobs. For others, this has
been a coerced growth, using live/work units to
The barcode indicates cities that regulate Many cities regulate what types of business
de-densify certain parts of the city or drawing
what/how goods are sold in that space. can occupy the work area in the live/work
artists into areas, bringing with them the vibrancy
Some codes maintain that only items SIGN unit. This symbol indicates what cities have
and life that usually follows them.
produced in the that unit can be sold there, limited what type of work is permitted such
Many cities are defining live/work units
while others allow a multitude of goods to as an artist studio/loft and/or retail.
in their zoning codes, allowing for land use
be sold there.
regulation and a further interpretation of the
building code. Using a survey approach, we
Some codes state that a limited amount of Many cities specify a location of work within
researched a variety of cities throughout the
non-residents are allowed to work in the the unit. Many areas say that the work
United States and their zoning codes. Through
work area or that a limited amount of space must be on the ground floor if the
this study, we found six reoccurring factors that
customers or clients are allowed to occupy live/work unit is multiple stories. However,
cities are using to define live/work.
the space at one time. other codes simply state where the work
The bar graph on the next page
space cannot be, such as the garage for
describes whether that city gave a minimum or
the city of Chicago
maximum amount of square footage on the live or SIGN

work portion of the unit. This is a way for cities to

SIGN The zoning code oftentimes states whether Sometimes supplemental parking is
control what people are calling live/work units. For
signage is permitted or not. If signage is required in addition to what the zoning code
instance, with these minimums and maximums,
permitted there are limitations as to the is already asking for in that specified zone.
one cannot take a commercial unit, add a bed, and
amount of signage allowed and how it can This can create issues for those trying to
call it live/work. Others also cannot simply put a
be presented - whether it must lay flat or create live/work units in already dense
computer in their residential unit an call that live/
whether it can project off the facade. areas.
work.
 seattle, wa
SIGN

minneapolis, mn
bismarck, nd st. paul, mn
portland, or
lynn, ma
SIGN milwaukee, wi
boise, id
SIGN

detroit, mi
boston, ma
chicago, il cleveland, oh
denver, co
san francisco, ca SIGN SIGN
SIGN new york
SIGN
SIGN
las vegas, nv kansas, city, mo
fairmont, wv
SIGN
louisville, ky philadelphia, pa
oklahoma city, ok
los angeles, ca washington dc
albuquerque, nm
san diego, ca fort smith, ak raleigh, nc
phoenix, az SIGN
dallas, tx atlanta, ga
el paso, tx
SIGN

houston, tx
new orleans, la
austin, tx
tampa, fl
west palm beach, fl
SIGN

100%

75%

50%
new york city
san diego

fort smith

cleveland
las vegas

fairmont

phoenix
chicago

st. paul

25%
raleigh
denver

atlanta

lynn

% of max live % of max work % of min live % of min work

International Building Code
(As of 2009)

419.1 General. A live/work unit is a dwelling unit live/work unit is in compliance with Section 419. 419.3.4 Locks. Egress doors shall be permitted to
or sleeping unit in which a significant portion of the High-hazard and storage occupancies shall not be be locked in accordance with Exception 4 of
space includes a non-residential use that is oper- permitted in a live/work unit. The aggregate area Section 1008.1.9.3.
ated by the tenant and shall comply with sections of storage in the nonresidential portion of the live/
419.1 through 419.8 work unit shall be limited to 10 percent of the 419.4 Vertical Openings. Floor openings between
Exception: Dwelling or sleeping units that space dedicated to nonresidential activities. floor levels of a live/work unit are permitted without
include an office that is less than 10 percent of the enclosure.
area of the dwelling unit shall not be classified as a 419.3 Means of Egress. Except as modified by
live/work unit. this section, the provisions for Group R-2 occu- 419.5 Fire Protection. The live/work unit shall be
pancies in Chapter 10 shall apply to the entire live/ provided with a monitored fire alarm system where
419.1.1 Limitations. The following shall apply to work unit. required by Section 907.2.9 and an automatic
all live/work areas: sprinkler system in accordance with Section
1. The live/work unit is permitted to be a maxi- 419.3.1 Egress Capacity. The egress capacity for 903.2.8.
mum of 3,000 square feet (279 m2); each element of the live/work unit shall be based
2. The nonresidential area is permitted to be a on the occupant load for the function served in 419.6 Structural. Floor loading for the areas
maximum of 50 percent of the area of each live/ accordance with Table 1004.1.1. within a live/work unit shall be designed to con-
work unit; form to Table 1607.1 based on the function within
3. The nonresidential area function shall be lim- 419.3.2 Sliding Doors. Where doors in a means the space.
ited to the first or main floor only of the live/work of egress are of the horizontal-sliding type, the
unit; and force to slide the door to its fully open position 419.7 Accessibility. Accessibility shall be
4. A maximum of five nonresidential workers or shall not exceed 50 pounds (220 N) with a perpen- designed in accordance with Chapter 11.
employees are allowed to occupy the nonresiden- dicular force against the door of 50 pounds (220
tial area at any one time. N). 419.8 Ventilation. The applicable requirements of
the International Mechanical Code shall apply to
419.2 Occupancies. Live/work units shall be clas- 419.3.3 Spiral Stairways. Spiral stairways that each area within the live/work unit for the function
sified as a Group R-2 occupancy. Separation conform to the requirements of Section 1009.9 within that space.
requirements found in Sections 420 and 508 shall shall be permitted.
not apply within the live/work unit where the
Live
Work
Work Community Ground Home Studio Live

Typical Live/Work
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
In attempt to categorize live work we sepa-
rated the projects into four scales. These four
scales represent the most common occurrences
of live work;
Studio loft
Home office
Ground floor workspace
Community
In the following section we take a closer look
at the different aspects of the space and design of
live work, which are unique to the type. In addition
to the analysis of the traditional live work unit we
have included precedents with unique or unusual
conditions. It is our hope that through these com-
prehensive analyses we paint a clearer picture of
how these strategies connect to combine live work
needs into a singular space.
Live

Methods of Analysis
Studio

User/Access Patterns
These diagrams describe how the user enters the live/work space. It also differentiates how someone who
Home

works in the space travels through the unit as opposed to someone who lives there.
Ground

Separation
Community

As the scale becomes larger the separation between live and work becomes more defined. For certain
projects, the separation may simply be a piece of furniture while others can be doors, walls, and floors. In
small scales, the live and work spaces may not be separated by any physical object, but is instead sepa-
Work

rated by time. These issues are diagramed to show how different projects execute different methods of
separating live and work.

Balance of Live & Work

The ratios of live/work are studied through a series of diagrams that visually show the amount of live space
in relationship to the amount of workspace. The larger the scale, the easier it is see this ratio. However, if
the scale is small, like an artist studio/loft, the balance of live/work becomes harder to diagram because
the same space is used for live and work.

Additional Features
Each project has a set of characteristics that are unique to that scale. These diagrams delve into those dis-
tinct qualities to further understand how that unit works.

Precedents
Because there is no distinct building or unit live/work type, precedents are shown to further illustrate the
range of designs that can be considered a studio/loft, home office, ground floor workspace, and
community.
Work Community Ground Home Studio Live
Work Community Ground Home Studio Live

S tudio Loft
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
The studio/loft is the smallest of the live/work
sub-types. This space can be extremely simple
with one room containing all of the programs:
sleeping, eating, cooking, working, and relaxing or of artists in cities who utilize these spaces, cities
slightly more complex with a lofted space contain- have started to define artists’ live/work studios in
ing the sleeping area. Whatever the case is, the their zoning codes, specifying required ratios of
one significant characteristic of the studio/loft is live/work, ceiling heights, ventilation requirements,
that there is no structural separation of the live/ and other characteristics specific to an artists’
work areas. It is up to the user to define these needs. Cities have also started employing incen-
spaces and to separate them according to the tives for artists to move into these spaces and for
needs of the user. This creates a number of inter- developers to build these studio/lofts in certain
esting ways to separate live and work whether it is areas of town. As a result, artist studio/lofts have
a piece of furniture or something that is not tangi- been growing at alarming rates. But because the
ble, like time. space is so compact, it is important to understand
The most common user for these studio/loft the design logic behind these units and the issues
spaces is the artist. Because of the high number that may arise from such a small space.
Live

User/Access Patterns
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Loft

Lower Level
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
Seeing that the studio loft type has an ambi-
guity between the boundaries of live and work, the
access depends on the time of the day. In the typ-
ical situation, the living quarters are located in a so much on walking down hallways or entering
loft above the kitchen area. Because of this sepa- through doors. In this type it is hard to remove
ration between the work regions, access to the liv- oneself from work, for live and work are severely
ing zone is obtained via the stairs. In order for the intertwined. These studio loft units are typically
Threshold user to access the work quarters he has to walk not individual units but are in a mirrored situation
down his lofted stairs. The first level of the entire in a larger building. Therefore access to each stu-
studio is dedicated to both living and working situ- dio loft is separate and private. There does not
The studio loft unit type has an ambiguous ations, with no strict separation. There is an have to be any neighborhood camaraderie, as the
differentiation between the live and work. However, ambiguous differentiation between what exactly is tenants of the building never work together as they
the threshold between the two is created by the cir- work and what is live. Therefore the access do in the community situation, work and live both
culation of the stairs. between the two depends on the furniture and not occur in their single studio loft units.
Live

Separation through Time

Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

7 am 12 pm

7 pm 12 am
 L L

Live
S S
H H

Studio
G G

Home
C C

Ground
W W

Community
Work
The separation within a studio loft unit is as
fl exible as the provided space. These multipur-
TYPICAL
pose spaces are used for various activities; they
FLEXIBLE L L
in turn determine the separation between the liv-
ing and working spaces. In the morning, when the

S S
kitchen and eating area is used, the separation
becomes the table and boundary it creates
Work Time
24
between the living and work space. However,
18 6
STUDIO LOFT
H H
when the open space is used for working, the
TYPICAL kitchen and bathroom become amenities to sup-
12 FLEXIBLE G G
port the work zone. The threshold then becomes
the stair and upper level, creating a boundary to
In the studio we are highlighting the typical
hours that one would work in dark green, and the
C C
the sleeping area, which is the only live space at
the time. As the day ends and the multi-use
24
space becomes a living area, the work space is
uncommon hours in light green. There is no physi-
cal
18 boundary between live
HOMEand work, therefore one
OFFICE
W W
minimized to only the equipment, which creates
6
the separation. When the user is sleeping, the
can work at any hour during the day. This is why
fl oor is then the separation, as the lower level is
there is12
no white space in this diagram. The
signifi ed as the work space. This constant evolu-
emphasis of this diagram shows that the work
tion of space is separated by various elements,
hours always occur and are more sporadic during
whether a table or a fl oor, creating the threshold
the day.24
between live and work.
Live

Balance of Live/Work
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

7 am 12 pm

7 pm 12 am
 L L

Live
S S
H H

Studio
G G

Home
C C

Ground
W W

Community
Work
The balance in a studio / loft unit is measured
differently from the rest of our types. The bound-
aries are often undefined and converge with one
L L
another. An estimated ratio of work space to live
space would be 1:2. The lower level consists of all

S S
the amenities and services for the studio unit.
These are a separated bathroom and a small
kitchen open to the rest of the apartment. There is
H H
also a need for a large storage closet typically
tucked under the stairs up to the loft. The remain-
G G
ing living space on the lower level is left open.
The space is furnished with whatever furniture or

C C
apparatuses meet the occupants needs as an art-
ist. Depending on the artist, studios usually house

W W
a small dinning table, comfortable chair and work
desk. In the open space both live and work merge
together to create a convenient flexible area to
work and relax. The upper loft level typically holds
a bed and is primarily used as an area of repose.
Studio / loft units are built to hold as many as two
occupants but hold one more conveniently.
Live

Special Considerations
Studio
Home
Ground
Community

The Studio/Loft typology of Live/Work proofing between units can help mitigate the issue
Work

has a lot of unique features. However, there are between different types of artists. In addition, it is
some things that should be taken into consider- good to individualize each unit with respect to
ation when thinking about designing a Studio /Loft lighting and ventilation. Depending on the type of
unit. These items, although deemed as important activity in each unit should determine how much
elements, have not been discussed through the ventilation or lighting is needed. Often times art-
general typology. ists will need a stronger ventilation system than
As seen through the typical Studio/Loft writers, or musicians will need more light than writ-
unit, these units are usually always seen in a ware- ers. In any case, the ability to have control over
house or complex style. As a result, careful con- light and ventilation usage in a per unit setting is a
sideration should be taken for each unit type. With good way to make each unit type flexible for differ-
the wide variety of renters from writer, musicians, ent artists.
dancers, artists, etc, each person has a need to Storage is one of the biggest complaints
customize their space to their specific needs. In amongst artist in live/work units today. The
the case of the writer, it is essential for their unit to International Building Code calls for no more than
be quiet. This means that their unit should most 10% of unit area to be storage. Developers and
likely not be located near a musicians unit. Or in architects should try to utilize the full potential of
the case of the dancer, a special type of floor the 10%. Artists of all types can utilize storage,
should be considered for dancing purposes. and is a welcomed addition into their units.
With the wide variety of user types,
developers should often consider elements to
really individualize each unit. The usage of sound
 L L

Live
S S
H H

Studio
G G

Home
C C

Ground
W W

Community
Work
Loft

L L
S S
H H
G G
C C
W W

Lower Level
Live

Precedents
Lila Studio
This tiny 240 square foot live/work studio
Studio

houses all of its program in one tiny room. In order

to make the space work, Lila built a custom desk
Home

to fit in the corner, so as not to take up too much

room.
The other piece of furniture that is
Ground

needed for adaptability is the sofa bed. During the

day, it is used as couch and at night, it is reconfig-
Community

ured to become her bed. The sofa bed shows the

temporal separation that occurs in this live/work
studio. It is the time of day that transforms the that
piece of furniture from daytime couch use to night-
Work

time bed use.

 Live
Precedents
Apartment 4D, Ottawa, Ontario
Located in a 1935 heritage condomin-

Studio
ium, this newly renovated space combined two
600 square foot apartments into one large, highly
flexible unit. This live/work space would accom-

Home
modate the ever-evolving life, work, social, and
seasonal changes.

Ground
To achieve this flexibility, the apartment
is designed with rolling storage cabinets, each
holding a specific set of items: coats, files, refriger-

Community
ator, and television. These cabinets can be moved
to create intimate spaces within the loft, or moved
to the side for a loft-like open space. Other flexi-

Work
ble furniture include the rolling desk, which can
become an extension of the kitchen counter for
entertainment or a work space, depending on the
needs of that time.
Work Community Ground Home Studio Live

H ome Office
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
The home office is the classic live/work
space. One of the advantages to having this,
aside from the fact that one can work from home, ber of interesting design spaces. Now, designers
is that unlike the studio/loft, the home office is and architects are beginning to designate certain
actually separated from the rest of the home. areas of the house with the specific use as an
Although sometimes the space can be small, peo- office type. This has caused the threshold
ple who do not need many non-resident users to between live and work to also evolve. Before, the
utilize the office can find this space to be the per- door between the office and the rest of the home
fect size. Oftentimes, there is no separate was the only separation between live and work.
entrance into the workspace and the kitchen and However, today, numerous designs have led to
bathroom is shared between the live and work innovating ways for users to cross that threshold.
functions. But, because the resident is also the In certain projects, that separation is a glass
worker, this is usually not a problem. bridge or even an outdoor patio. Whatever the
For many years, people have been using case may be, the home office is progressing from
extra bedrooms and converting them into offices. simply a room with a desk and computer to new
Once just a room, it has now evolved into a num- and creative directions.
Live

User/Access Patterns
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
The home office is a unique type as there is
only one means of access, the interior door.
When the user is in the home, they simply walk
into the home office for access. This room is simi-
lar to a spare bedroom as it has a door separating
it from the rest of the house. This door is the only
means of access into the home office. The door
Threshold also doubles as the separation of the home office
from the remainder of the home. The home office
does not have it’s own kitchen area or bathrooms,
The work space in the home office unit type for it is simply an extra room in the house and uses
uses the elements of the stair and corridor to cre- all the amenities of the home. This also allows for
ate a threshold when accessed from the living flexibility as the home office can be used in the
area. However, the secondary circulation, when future for a spare bedroom or living area, it is not
living amenities are used, blur the boundary of this under strict guidelines on what makes a home
threshold. office a specific work zone.
Live

Separation
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
The separation of space is important in all
live/work units, especially in a condition such as
TYPICAL
the home office. The only division of space comes
FLEXIBLE
from partition walls and the small floor area above

Work
the office unit, as most home offices are found on
the ground floor. In the case of some new homes,
24 which are designed for live/work, there is a sepa-
rate entrance into the office from the exterior in
STUDIO LOFT
18 6
addition to the main entry, but this is unusual. The
hallway from the office to the main space is con-
12
sidered part of the separation as it creates a buffer
zone between strictly live functions and the work

Work Time functions of the office. Not only do the walls and
24
physical elements create separation but time is
HOME OFFICE also a boundary for the space. The home office is
18 6
used during regular business hours but consider-
TYPICAL
12 ing its close proximity to living elements its very
FLEXIBLE
likely that the space is used before or after the
White is introduced in the home office illus- standard nine to five work day. Since the design of
trating when it is unlikely that one would work. a home office is so standardized almost any room
24
The dark green emphasizes when work normally in a house can be transformed, thus reducing the
occurs
18 and the6light green emphasizes when it number or unique features the area can possess.
GROUND FLR WORK SPACE
could be used, but not as typical as the dark In a new unit accessories like customizable stor-
green. 12
The light green at noon also shows the typ- age will thicken the separation increasing the
ical lunch break a worker would take. acoustic qualities of the boundaries.
Live

Balance of Live/Work
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
In a home office the radio of work to live is
dramatically smaller than many of the other types.
Depending on the size of the residential unit the
ratio may vary. Using our typical condition the ratio
of work space to live space would read 1:8. The
home office is often just one room in a larger multi
bedroom residential unit. Typically the only occu-
pants allowed to work in a home office have to be
a resident of the unit the home office resides. Our
condition shows the home office on the lower level
accessible to the living area, bathroom and other
common amenities of the house hold. It is not
uncommon to see these offices on the second
level adjacent to the bedrooms. One of the bene-
fits of having a home office is convenience. Many
young families incorporate these into the design of
there households in order to spend more time with
the family. It allows for more flexible hours and it
eliminates routine work related transportation
costs.
Live

Special Considerations
Studio
Home
Ground

The Home Office typology of Live/Work ists, but more business orientated developments
Community

has a lot of the same characteristics that any typi- such as architecture firms, engineering firms,
cal home has. However, what distinguishes the accounting, etc. Due to the more business orien-
regular home from a home that contains a Home tated development, there becomes less of a need
Office is the balance between the usage of home for a separation between ventilation and lighting.
Work

functions throughout the day. For instance, the In most cases, the lighting and ventilation systems
home will function as a living mechanism by night, are ties into the system that carries the load for the
and as an office by day. This becomes more prev- rest of the house. This can said as well for sound-
alent when more than one person works at the proofing. When the working activity takes place
Home Office. within the house, the living aspects tend to cease
With this in mind, there are a few con- to exist. The exception to this concept can be
cepts that should be taken into consideration when when the work involves some sought of music, or
designing for a Home Office. The first one is the if family members spend most of their day in the
size of the space. In most occasions, the Home house during working hours.
Office is designed as a single room for a single The last thing that should be taken into
user. The room is often such a size that can pos- consideration is storage. In a business setting,
sibly be converted later into an additional bed- the idea of a storage closet is crucial. The loca-
room, if the inhabitants decide to sell their home. tion of this closet should be located within the
If the home owner decides to expand the office workspace of the Home Office and should be
beyond the single individual, there should be a somehow separated from the rest of the house. In
consideration of enlarging the room, or possible a home that has kids, it is pertinent to keep this
joining multiple rooms depending on the office room under observation as it will most likely have
usage. items in which could be of interest to the kids, and
The Home Office in most cases is pose as a potential danger.
designed with the idea of a business in mind. This
usually limits the activities to not necessarily art-
Ground Floor
Second Floor

Work Community Ground Home Studio Live

Live

Precedents
Project, Pittsburgh
Studio

This new reinterpretation of a Pittsburgh

row house was built between two 19th century
town homes as a live/work unit for architects. The
Home

design incorporates an open floor plan along with

a two-story skylight volume that connects both
floors visually.
Ground

The first floor contains the kitchen and

living spaces, while the second level contains the
Community

workspace. Both of these areas are connected by

a glass bridge, which visually and materially sepa-
rates the most public space with the most private
space. This architectural element uses the mate-
Work

rial to make users aware of the difference in mate-

riality when walking along the floor, which is wood
in the office and glass on the bridge.

Roof Terrace

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Precedents
Ma House, Charlottesville
Christopher Hays and Allison Ewing

Studio
designed a two-part live/work structure that com-
bines and separates the live/work spaces.

Home
The overall design connects the building
with the landscape and incorporates the ideas of
sustainability, Japanese architecture and modern

Ground
design.
The living areas are contained on the first floor

Community
and the bedrooms are on the second. Their work
area, an architecture office is also on the first
floor. The separation between live and work is an
exterior space, which is bridged together by the

Work
raised porch space and enclosed by cypress lou-
vered doors.
This example of the home office is differ-
ent from the typical because of the separate
entrance into the space.

Second Floor

Ground Floor
Work Community Ground Home Studio Live

Workspace
G round Floor
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
The Ground Floor Workspace type of fi rst come to fruition in the SOHO district of New
Live/Work has by far been the biggest growing York back in the 1970’s, specifi cally built and
trend in our country today. With the poor econ- used by the “yuppie” generation. Nowadays, it

Work
omy and the rising gas prices, it has become has expanded to all types of people, and just not
more economically applicable to travel as little ‘yuppies”.
as possible to work. For those who own their The design of the Ground Floor
own offi ce or retail business, the concept of Workspace is relatively basic and self explana-
“Zero-Commute Housing” has caught the atten- tory. With the fi rst fl oor being dedicated to either
tion of many people. offi ce or retail, there are typically two or three
What has helped the ability of “Zero- fl oors of live space, depending on the size of the
Commute Housing” is the concept of urban development and the family. In this case, a two
sprawl. In an attempted to live the busy down- fl oor confi guration is ideal for up to a three per-
town cities to fi nd more affordable cheap hous- son family. The second fl oor of the building con-
ing, people started moving to the suburbs, and sists of an open fl oor plan for more public
decided to commute farther to work. As we all encounters. It contains a full kitchen, dining
know, time and money is essential in a poor area, half bathroom and living space. There is
economy. So the most effi cient way to alleviate also an associated deck overlooking the back of
this problem is to bring work closer to the home. the row house.
Now there are self suffi cient cities that consists of The third fl oor encompasses the more
multiple Live/Work typologies, especially that of private functions of the house. It consists of two
the Ground Floor workspace. bedrooms with their own private bathroom and
The Ground Floor Workspace typology walk-in closets. All these functions are con-
allows for the owner of the store or offi ce to live nected by a small hallway.
directly above his workspace. This concept was
Live

User/Access Patterns
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Third Floor

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Threshold

Studio
The ground floor workspace is accessible by

Home
a progression through the threshold created by the There are many different types of
elements of the stairs and corridor, and finally pro- access patterns for Ground Floor Workspace. In
ceeding through the entry to the work area. most cases, a Ground Floor Workspace Live/

Ground
Work unit is set up in a row house condition.
Typically, there are two separate entrances, one

Community
for direct access to the workspace on the ground
fl oor, and another entrance that specifi cally gains
access to the living unit above. However, there is
a door that connects the ground fl oor workspace

Work
to the stairs leading to the living unit. This allows
for the owner access to his offi ce / store without
having to go outside. This also allows for a bit of
fl exibility. If in the future the owner wants to rent
out either the ground fl oor workspace, or the
living unit above, the interior door can be locked
and blocked off, and each unit type can still have
a dedicated entrance.
With the fi rst fl oor being dedicated to
either offi ce or retail, there are typically two or
three fl oors of live space, depending on the size
of the development and the family. To maximize
the fl oor plan space, a stair located along the
party wall works best. Not only does the stair
increase a noise buffer between adjacent units,
but also helps to create a effi cient link to the
exterior as well as the workspace below.
For design guidelines having to do with
accessibility of a living unit, please refer to the
International Building Code as well as city Zoning
Laws.
Live

Separation
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Third Floor

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Studio
TYPICAL

Home
FLEXIBLE

Ground
24

Community
STUDIO LOFT
18 6

12

Work
24

HOME OFFICE
18 6

In Live/Work units, the boundary of the

12
space is the biggest distinction for what is live
and what is work. In the case of the Ground

Work Time Floor Workspace confi guration, there is one

24
major boundary to be considered; the fl oor. With space to the stair vestibule. As stated on the pre-
18 6
the fi rst fl oor solely dedicated to a workspace, vious page, not only does this allow for a private
GROUND FLR WORK SPACE
TYPICAL and the two above fl oors to a live space, the fl oor separation from one type to another, but the wall
12
FLEXIBLE
(whether made of wood or steel) is seen as the also acts as a defi ning moment on the ground
sound, smoke, and fi re barrier between the two fl oor of the exact boundary of the workspace.
Because the ground floor workspace has typ- different functions. Asides from the fl oor element and wall
ical business hours the white space increases and What also distinguishes this Live/Work element as discussed, there is no further separa-
24
the light green decreases. The dark green shows type is the separation by a stair and a wall on the tion needed between the workspace and lives
the
18 normal business
6 hours leaving an hour leeway
COMMUNITY fi rst fl oor. The stair acts as a separator, or con- pace (as diagramed below).
if one comes early or leaves late from work. The nector, to that of the workspace and live space. It For design guidelines having to do with
12 is removed as light green because a
lunch hour is the only object that penetrates the fl oor barrier. fi re separation of a living unit, please refer to the
store/office would need to be open all hours of a At the same time, an additional separation is International Building Code as well as city Zoning
typical workday. seen by a wall on the fi rst fl oor from the work- Laws.
Live

Balance of Live/Work
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Third Floor

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
In order to design an efficient Live/Work
unit, the ratio of work to live space must be greatly
considered. For the most part, this ratio is differ- below), the possibility of reaching the 50% is a
ent in all cities according to each individual zoning hard task. Not to mention that the ground floor
law. For the case of this ground floor workspace workspace has to be handicap accessible as well,
typology, the ratio will be roughly 1:3, that is the which eliminates the idea of being able to extend
lives pace will be approximately double that of the the office or retail space to a second floor.
workspace It is important to keep in mind that when
The International Building Code states choosing the size of space, that the type of space
that a Live/Work space is allowed to have a maxi- you want to create will have a driving factor. Sizes
mum of 50% and a minimum of 10% size area for of furniture, display cases, handicap accessibility
a work space. Obviously in order to maximize effi - will all have a hand on how big your space will
ciency of a retail or office space the 50% limit will need to be.
be pushed to the maximum. However, when For design guidelines having to do with
designing a complex of Live/Work units, they will workspace to live space floor area ration, please
be in some sought of row house design. With the refer to the International Building Code as well as
need to stack elements (as seen in the plans city Zoning Laws.
Live

Special Considerations
Studio
Home
Ground
Community

The Ground Floor Workspace typology

Work

of Live/Work has certain unique features that sep-

arates it from all the other types. Asides from the
typical derived in this typology, there are some
things that should be considered when designing
this type.
Often design as part of a complex, this
Live/Work type utilizes a party-wall condition and work, the separation of these elements acts
between units. This condition often acts as a fire as a cost saving measure. The separation is also
separation, as well as acoustic separation utilized because often the type and need of light-
between units. The fire separation is required by ing, ventilation, and other HVAC components differ
code, but the acoustic separation is optional, but is from those needed in the living unit.
often applied depending on the type of working With the Ground Floor Workspace utiliz-
conditions in adjacent units. If adjacent units con- ing the different typologies of retail and office
sists of solely office space, then acoustic separa- space, accessibility becomes a key issue. In
tion might not be necessary. However, if there is opening the first floor up to customers or cowork-
retail adjacent to an office, then this concept ers, the first floor by code has to be accessible.
should be applied. Although the Ground Floor Workspace has to be
In keeping in mind the idea of separation accessible, there is no requirement for the entire
of Live/Work within a unit via a stair, electric, venti- unit to be accessible. This typology is usually
lation, and HVAC components are often separated designed for a small family, different from the
between the live and work portions of the unit. other Live/Work types which usually caters to a
Due to the physical floor separation between live specific individual.
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Third Floor

Work
Second Floor

Ground Floor
Live

Precedents
Project, Antwerpen
This live/work space sits between two existing
Studio

exterior walls and uses its wooden floors to sepa-

rate the program. The first floor contains an archi-
Home

tecture office, the second is has the dining area,

the third is for the living space, and the fourth floor
has the sleeping area.
Ground

The facade uses colored lights to show

the differences in the program for each floor to the
public, inciting interest among the residents.
Community

Roof Terrace
Work

Fourth Floor

Third Floor

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Precedents
Home Cooking, East Lawrence
For chefs Robert and Molly Krause,

Studio
cooking at home as a whole new meaning to it.
Buying an existing stone house in Kansas, the
Krauses renovated the house and added new

Home
structures around it. The existing building houses
their living spaces, while the new addition contains

Ground
a two-level apartment for Molly’s mother and a
glass pavilion for their restaurant.
The use of glass and steel for the addi-

Community
tions contrasted against the original limestone
home, which strengthened the presence of the
older house.

Work
The program of this live/work space
required a special-use permit and shows the wide
range of programs that can be in a live/work
space.

Second Floor

Ground Floor
Work Community Ground Home Studio Live

C ommunity
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Community Live/Work spaces are the best
solution for people who dislike the seclusion of
typical Live/Work studio lofts. In the Community

Work
Live/Work space residents can benefit from a pri-
vate living space but still have the community feel
when they are in the shared work space with other
residents. This is a good option for people who
want to decrease their commute to work but still
enjoy a separation of their live space and work
space. The communal work space is usually
located centrally on a lower floor with living spaces
located on the floors above. The work space stays
open during normal business hours and generally
open to the public. In the past these community
live/work spaces have been occupied primarily by
artists. They have used their work spaces to invite
the public into exhibitions displaying artist work.
These communal work spaces offer a good envi-
ronment for residents to collaborate with other res-
idents to complete projects together. These
spaces are often very open and have loose bound-
aries between individual work spaces. This open-
ness is done to promote the collaboration between
the residents.
Live

User/Access Patterns
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Second Floor

(exhibit)

office/support

flex workspace

Ground Floor
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
There are two main different types of access
patterns in the community type; the more private
interior stairwells and the direct exterior entrance. the hours of the community space are open, they
In these community buildings the first floor is com- have to use their key to get into the space. The
posed as an open work with units of apartments other entry is accessed via an exterior door.
Threshold on the levels above. These units above are However, the people living in the building are the
strictly live units as work does not take place here. people using the workspace so the interior stair-
Work always happens on the first level in the com- wells is the most common means of access. This
munity space. When one is in their respected unit is also more convenient for the user, so he/she

Within the Community type, the circulation of residence and wants to access their working does not have to go outside to access the work-

from the living unit to the workspace is a progres- space they have to exit their unit and walk down space. While working there is easy access to rest-

sion through a number of elements that create a the interior hallway to the interior stairs and finally rooms and a small kitchen area, which is also

threshold. This threshold between live and work is to the first level of the building. The workspace on located on the same level. This provides for a bet-

created by the elements of the corridor, stair, entry this level is opened during certain hours, encour- ter work environment, as the worker does not have

of workspace and the navigation through the com- aging the residents of the building to form a work- to exit the floor and enter their individual living

munal space toward the personal work space. ing community together. If one wants to work after units for these amenities.
Live

Separation
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 TYPICAL

Live
FLEXIBLE

Studio
24

STUDIO LOFT
18 6

Home
12

Ground
24

Community
HOME OFFICE
18 6

12

Work
24

18 6
GROUND FLR WORK SPACE

12

Work Time In a community live/work situation the sepa-

24
ration of space is very different from that of the boundaries of space. Generally in a situation
18 6 COMMUNITY
other types presented here. The units of live and where work spaces are all together and live
TYPICAL work are not enclosed in the same space therefore spaces well separated extra characteristics are
12
FLEXIBLE
any means of circulation between the live unit and integrated into the design. These include acoustic
work space creates a boundary. In most cases this barriers, thicker floor slabs, higher ceilings, sup-
The community workspace has typical work- consists of hallways, staircases, building cores, plemental ventilation, extra storage, and separate
space hours which it would be open therefore this and the floor slab. In a few rare cases the live units electrical services. All of these features are bene-
entire time is dark green in the diagram. The white are contained in a different building but still within fits of being able to physically separate the spaces
illustrates nighttime, when the space is locked. close proximity, usually a five to fifteen minute to a higher degree than any other type previously
The light green spaces disappear, as there are no walk away. In a community where separate build- mentioned. They also diversify the types of work
in-between work hours; the community workspace ings house different functions the streets, alley- that can be done within the building and the addi-
is either open or closed. ways, and building exteriors create additional tional features add market appeal to the units.
Live

Balance of Live/Work
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work

Second Floor

Ground Floor
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
The scale of the community live work unit is
significantly larger than the rest of the types. The
community Live / work units are organized similar

Work
to the ground floor work units. There are two floors
of live units above and a communal work floor
located on ground level or in the basement. The
ratio is skewed because in some cases people liv-
ing in the vicinity of the live work building are
allowed to use the work space as well. Another
difference are the units above, they are often sin-
gle story studio units housing one to two occu-
pants. These factors may change the ratio to read
closer to 1:1. Meaning every occupant of the
building has a small live space above and a large
shared space to work on the lower level. In some
cases the lower work level is parceled out into
individual work areas. Methods of division include
marked tape on the ground, curtains on tracks and
movable solid partitions. On a busy day the lower
work level can become a lively space encouraging
creativity, community interaction and collaboration
between residents. In some cases there are spe-
cial amenities offered such as cocktail bars, gal-
lery spaces, and lounge areas.
Live

Special Considerations
Studio
Home
Ground

The Community typology of Live/Work Since artists are allowed to move into
has the interesting concept between an entire sep- the community space freely, some type of security
Community

aration between live and work. As seen in the typ- measures should be taken to make sure each per-
ical and precedents, the community typology has sons stuff is not damaged or stolen. This issue
the distinction of having to travel a greater dis- can be alleviated with the institution of security
tance between the living unit to the workspace, cameras, swipe card access, or the typical secu-
Work

whether it being having to travel through the exte- rity guard that can be on duty 24 hours a day. Of
rior conditions, or having to travel through a build- course there are benefits and disadvantages to
ing complex. Like the Studio/Loft, the community each, but it is up to the discretion of the developer,
is often arranged in a warehouse or complex envi- architect, or building supervisor to institute these
ronment. Due to multiple people of different art- measures.
ists types coming together into an individual large The lighting and HVAC components of a
“community” space, there are some additional community space differs most dramatically from
things to consider. the other typologies. With a large open space, as
In a community space, many people well as increased ceiling heights, the need of an
come together and utilize a specific area of an extensive HVAC system in correlation to multiple
open floor plan. This open floor plan arrangement lighting types become prevalent. In putting multi-
is in most cases divided by moveable partitions, ple artists types in a large open space, the entire
that can be arranged depending on the size of space has to be considered in terms of the com-
space needed for each artists. It is not uncommon munity and not the individual artists. The devel-
to see a grouping of certain artists types in partic- oper, architect, and building manager has to tackle
ular areas, such as the musicians inhabiting a cor- this issue as it arises based on its occupants.
ner of the open floor plan, and artists Often times the large space ends up being divided
encompassing the opposite corner of the room. into artists type rooms to control lighting and
Due to the open floor plan arrangement, this type HVAC components more accurately based on
of setup is not necessarily ideal for writers. need.
 Live
Studio
Home
Ground
Community
Work
Second Floor

(exhibit)

office/support

flex workspace

Ground Floor
Live

Precedents
Falcon Art Community, Portland
The Falcon Art Community is depicted
Studio

more along the lines of the Live/Work Typical for

Community. The building itself consists of four-
stories total, with three stories above ground being
Home

living units, and the basement solely dedicated to

space for artists. The artists spaces in the base-
Ground

ment are divided into individual units for privacy.

The fact that the live space is separated from the
work space in a single complex is what makes this
Community

a Community.
This Precedent is slightly different from
the typical in the way of the Community layout.
Work

The Typical relates the workspace as an more

open community interactive element, as opposed
to the Falcon Art Community which is designed for
more privacy of works paces.
 Live
Precedents
Hunter’s Point Shipyard, San Francisco
Hunters Point Shipyard was designed as

Studio
a community living area for artists. The site is
organized within a compound that entails buildings

Home
that are designated for living, with a community
building for the creation of artists work. The layout
of buildings and the separation of activities creates

Ground
a sense of community. With its location in San
Francisco, the fact of having to move from one

Community
building to another by experiencing the outdoor
elements does not play as much of a factor as if it
was located in a colder climate.
This precedent provides an example that

Work
a Community Live/Work development does not
necessarily have to be housed within the same
complex. With taking into consideration location,
it is feasible to create a Community that is
detached from different program pieces.

125

PARKING

115
116

117

103 104
110

101

PARKING

GATE
New Ideas
 As with most architectural types there are
always a few designers trying to push the bound-
aries. In this section, titled New Ideas, we are
exploring two new directions that hold potential for
live/work. Both ideas are bases on different mar-
ket demands that have become very influential.
The first concept is that of a temporary live/work
hotel suite. The working professional traveling for
business is a user group, which has been almost
entirely ignored. This concept takes their needs
into consideration and explores the extents of
hotel room design. The second building discussed
in this section takes the idea of adaptability and
stretches it to the limits. It allows for three different
scenarios: live, live/work, and work. As the sus-
tainable lifestyle becomes more and more appar-
ent in home design, more cases of highly
adaptable building types such as the Flex House
will increase tremendously. These featured proj-
ects are just the starting point and only hint at the
potential concealed in the live/work framework,
only time will tell where the boundaries lie within
this type.
IDEO Marriott Towneplace Suites

The concept behind IDEO’s project for

a Marriott Townhouse Suite might be the next big
thing for those business people always on the go.
This concept takes into consideration the need
for a mobile offi ce. These suites are designed as
a live/work space, with more emphasis on the
work aspect. The room, designed to be part of a
hotel and for extended stay usage, has the mini-
mum necessities for living in an extended stay
environment, with also providing for an offi ce
style workspace.
This concept of the mobile, extended
stay live/work unit type has started becoming
popular all over the world. Also known as
“PODS” in other areas, this concept helps to alle-
viate business travel issues as our society today
becomes more mobile and always on the go.
Flex House

Appropriately named the “Flex House”,

this conceptual living environment expands on
the idea of adaptability. The Flex House is
designed to incorporate moveable partitions that
can create space. With the service core located
to one side of the house, the rest of the fl oor area
can be manipulated based on the user. The
owner could option the house to be entirely work,
removing all the partitions, or the owner can elect
to transform the space into live/work, or just live
depending on the insertion of partitions.
The exterior of the building was also
designed to be fl exible. A trellis like structure
surrounds the building. At certain points, the
owner can option to open parts of the trellis or
keep them closed depending on the needs of the
occupant. In most cases, if the building is dedi-
cated to an offi ce then parts of the trellis will be
open. If it is dedicated to live, then privacy will be
sought after.
Comparison TYPICAL
Work Time Threshold
FLEXIBLE

TYPICAL

24
The concept of Separation is a crucial element FLEXIBLE

when describing Live/Work units. As seen in the Studio Loft 18 6

STUDIO LOFT

In looking at the typical presented in this typical of the book, separation of live and work is TYPICAL
12
24
book, it is important to discover the major differ- in most cases designated by a wall or fl oor sepa- FLEXIBLE

ences between each Live/Work typology. In a ration. The one exception to this rule is the 18 6
STUDIO LOFT

broad sense, many factors play into the unique Studio/Loft which defi nes separation by furniture, 24 TYPICAL
12
24
development of each type such as codes, devel- rather than a more solid separation of a wall or FLEXIBLE
HOME OFFICE
18 6
STUDIO LOFT
opers and architects initiatives, type of users, and ceiling. 18 6

In looking at the Balance of Live/Work, there 12

site location. This pattern book not only strives to 24
12
24
take these ideas into consideration, but also tries becomes a noticeable distinction between each
Home Office
HOME OFFICE
18 6

to draw upon conclusions made through research typical. The community Live/Work for instance 18 6
STUDIO LOFT
24
12
to derive at each typical Live/Work unit in respect has an overwhelming amount of work space com- 24
12
18 6
to User/Access Patterns, Separation, and pared to the size of the individual unit. However, 18 6
GROUND FLR WORK SPACE
HOME OFFICE

Balance of Live/Work. the entire balance of Live/Work as derived by the 12

24
12
User/Access Patterns are different for every- code take into consideration the building as a 24
18 6
one. The different Live/Work typicals prove how whole, with all units taken into consideration with GROUND FLR WORK SPACE
HOME OFFICE
18 6
24
different set ups are able to adjust to different respect to the one open workspace. The rest of 12
24

modes of living. For instance, the Studio/Loft unit the typical Live/Work units have the majority of Ground 18
12
6 COMMUNITY

Floor
18 6
meshes the live and work together, providing the their space as live. The work portion is usually GROUND FLR WORK SPACE

12
24
user with a short distance of travel between live imbedded into the living with the exception of the Workspace 12
24
in work. This distance becomes further as you Ground Floor Workspace, whose purpose is to be 18 6 COMMUNITY

18 6
go from the Home Offi ce typical, to the Ground relatively separate from the living space due to GROUND FLR WORK SPACE
12
24
Floor Workspace typical, and eventually the the option of retail activities. 12

Community typical which has the longest dis- Overall, each Live/Work typology takes into con- 18 6 COMMUNITY

tance of travel. The concept of User/Access sideration the same concepts, but tweaks them 12
24
Patterns is usually dependent upon the prefer- slightly to make their typologies unique. The
ence of the user. Some people appreciate the matrix to the right helps give the reader an overall
Community 18 6 COMMUNITY

integration of Live/Work, whereas others try to understanding of the major differences of typolo-
12
separate their living and working activities as gies presented in this book with respect to the
much as possible while keeping the distance major concepts of User/Access Patters,
within the realm of Live/Work. Separation, and Balance of Live/Work.
Circulation Separation Balance of Live/Work

(sequence) (sequence)
Live/Work Team

Jesse Cabrera Rob Cayer Juliet Chun Nawaz Kamthewala

code-r historicist zone-ster graphic guru
Kathryn Moore Ben Stracco Kaitlyn Wolk Matthew Littell
diagram diva logo-master circ. chick Prof. graphicizer
LIVE/WORK

ARCH G691 GRADUATE DEGREE

PROJECT STUDIO

FALL 2009

This publication has been prepared as

part of a five week graduate thesis studio
assignment in the Northeastern University
School of Architecture for the Fall 2009
Architecture G691 course. Other publications
in this series include urban retail, office, and
parking garage typologies, all produced
by graduate students in the Northeastern
University architecture program.