About the Workhome Project
The Workhome Project’s purpose is to publish, debate and advocate for excellent design for home-based work, to influence associated policy-making to facilitate and enable this working practice, and to support communities interested in achieving this change. We have a central interest in social justice and in promoting home-based work in all its diverse forms, not just middle-class telework, to make future cities and economies more resilient.
A paradigm shift
Millions are now working from home in an unexpected global experiment triggered by Covid-19. Many employers and employees are finding this works for them. The benefits of this shift are potentially transformative.
Cutting down on wasteful journeys has dramatically reduced pollution. Businesses are reducing overheads through more effective use of space and time. Cities are becoming friendlier for walking, cycling and alternative means of transport. Social wealth is returning to neighbourhoods – condensed around work, home, markets and school, as well as spaces of culture, care and refuge.
Animation by Ash Sakula Architects
There is momentum and good will not to go back. But to make these changes sustainable, we need to unpick a century of design, policy and law that segregates work from the home and local communities.
We need to rethink cities and housing to meet the needs of people who want to work at home or in their neighbourhoods. Planning and designing for this new culture of work must become as ordinary as designing bus lanes, parks, bin stores or bike sheds. Laws and regulations that result in poor and overcrowded buildings, stifling the ability to work from home especially for the less privileged, must be challenged. Tackling these problems is an opportunity to build a fairer and more inclusive economy – one that works close to home and in favour of a better social climate around the world.
The Workhome Project’s mission is to advocate for good design, influence policy-making, and inspire and support communities in achieving this change. We want to promote a bottom-up understanding of the tolerance, flexibility and creativity needed to make future cities and economies more resilient.