Co-work-housing: a salutogenic design approach for remote work-life balance in a post pandemic era

Abstract

After the peak of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic, conducting work from home remains desirable for many. Even with many employers pushing for return to the office, remote work is here to say. However, while it has positive impacts for workers, it correspondingly has drawbacks that hinder physical and mental health. As such, this thesis explores how the built environment can support work-life balance and foster health and well-being for remote workers. The research explores the merging of Coworking, Cohousing, and Third Place models to propose a new holistic live+work+share model, called Co-work-housing, that preserves the benefits of remote work while addressing its drawbacks. The thesis also investigates salutogenic design strategies to reimagine a new way of life, one that encourages physical activity, connection with nature, social interaction, and all other aspects of health that foster well-being, encouraging remote workers to become the best version of themselves.