YOUR HOME Future-proofing

Some might say we’ve come full circle. In past centuries, most people survived by living on the land and didn’t have to commute to work. Has working from home become the new norm in the 21st century?

- CARROL BAKER

there’s no doubt the fledgling work from home movement that evolved during COVID-19 has grown in epic proportions. So much so that as we adjust to living with COVID-19, many workers are now permanently ditching their office digs for the comfort of home.

According to The Melbourne Institute’s Taking the Pulse of the Nation Survey, almost 70 per cent of Australians who have been working from home because of COVID-19 would like to continue doing so. This can mean changing home designs to facilitate comfortable living spaces that also promote productive working environments. A 2021 report, ‘The spaces we inhabit in the post-pandemic reality’, compiled with 180 designers and architects in Madrid, revealed that when it came to designing homes of the future, three key elements stood out. Flexible interior living spaces, the importance of an indoor-outdoor connection, and homes that focus on sustainable living.

More flexible living spaces are emerging as architects and designers work to create beautiful livable spaces that promote dual work and play living at home. Glen Chamberlain from Chamberlain Architects says in a work from home environment, home designs need to evolve. “Everything was open plan and studies were mostly the classic nook that was the drop zone for keys and iPads,” says Glen. “But that idea of concentration and focus is at odds with open-plan layout — you need dedicated space.”

DESIGN AND ORIENTATION

If you are building new, the orientation of your home office space is important. Glen says the best orientation is capturing the northern light. “It’s wonderful and so too is southern light, which can be more even throughout the day,” he says.