User groups

Workhomes are generally designed around only one or two groups of users, despite the fact that different groups generally have radically different spatial and environmental requirements.

Understanding the range of home-based workers we may be designing for will help us to design more appropriate buildings.  Despite the fact that it is the  most commonly designed contemporary workhome, the standard format of the 'live/work unit' [the double height space with mezzanine] does not provide appropriate living and working space for most home-based workers.

Nine different groups of home-based workers have been identified ... there are probably more

Juggling parents
Combine their productive work with their caring responsibilities

Backbone of the community
Visible, well- known members of their local communities

Professionals
Including architects, photographers, teachers, and health-care professionals.

24/7 artists
Have a pre-occupation with work that over-rides ‘normal’ working hours or life-style

Top-up
Supplementing a low household income through home-based work

Craft-workers
Including furniture-makers, mechanics,  carpenters, caterers, plumbers and curtain-makers.

Live-in
Employees who are paid to ‘live-in’, for example, school caretakers and residential care-workers.

Start-up
Start-up businesses

Student
Spending many hours a week in home-based work which is often their sole source of income



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