Home-based work in cities: In search of an appropriate urban planning response. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zenkteler, Matthew; Darchen, Sebastien; Mateo-Babiano, Iderlina; Baffour, Bernard
• Is Part Of: Futures. Volume 135(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Home-based work -- Urban planning -- Economic development -- Locational preferences; Economic forecasting -- Periodicals; Technological forecasting -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; Prévision économique -- Périodiques; Prévision technologique -- Périodiques; Politique économique -- Périodiques; Economic forecasting; Economic policy; Technological forecasting; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 330.0112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2019.102494
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-3287

Abstract

Highlights: Over 81% of home-based workers intend to continue to work from home in a foreseeable future. Home-based workers support the evolution of their neighbourhoods towards multi use, fostering networking and collaboration. Despite ability to work online, home-based workers organise work around customers available in cities they currently live in. Limited identified impacts on the built environment in terms of home modification, commuting and residential relocation. Research participants declare a preference for dwellings designed for home-based work. Abstract: Home-based work is becoming an increasingly popular form of work in cities, fuelled by technological advances, lifestyle preferences, demographical change and rapid evolution of the knowledge economy. In many cities, particularly those planned and developed with intentional separation of land uses, this return of economic activities to residential neighbourhoods brings along both lifestyle opportunities and spatial challenges. Attempts to formulate appropriate urban planning responses are hindered by the limited understanding of home-based workers' needs and aspirations, as well as their impacts on the built environment. Responding to this knowledge gap, this paper presents the results of a survey focused on urban planning implications of home-based work within the City of Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia). The findings provide strong evidence of home-based workers' preferences for neighbourhoods that integrate residential amenities with place-making initiatives to enhance economic performance, networking and collaboration. Several urban planning recommendations are provided in three separate scenarios to facilitate the formulation of strategies prompting a gradual evolution of residential neighbourhoods towards live/work urban environments.