The spatial transformation of home-based workspaces after the COVID-19 pandemic: a focus on daily breaks and boundaries

Historically, workspaces have been associated with public spaces, enabling collective relationships and professional interactions, while the home remained a private domain. The Industrial Revolution further established clear boundaries between work and home through the development of formal office environments. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this division, transforming homes into temporary workspaces. Inspired by Home and Work: Negotiating Boundaries Through Everyday Life, this thesis examines how the integration of workspaces into the home has blurred spatial boundaries, altering individuals' perceptions and definitions of their environments. This study explores the coexistence and separation of professional and personal spaces within the home by analyzing daily activities such as meals, phone calls, and relaxation. It focuses on how five individuals working from home have adapted their living spaces to fulfill both work and personal needs. Through architectural analysis and spatial diagrams, key changes in private and shared areas are highlighted, revealing how architecture shapes the dual role of the home as both a living and working space. As homes become increasingly multifunctional, traditional concepts of space are continuously redefined. The findings provide insights into the design of modern living spaces that respond to the evolving demands of contemporary work environments, particularly in the post-pandemic era. Key Words: Workspaces, Work from Home, Home, Boundaries, Daily Breaks and Routines