<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The influence of global lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the lives of many people. Once performed elsewhere, many activities had to be moved to private spaces of individual homes, influencing how people use their residential space, modifying their living and working conditions. The purpose of this study was to research the changes in the use of residential space through questionnaires addressed to respondents in five age groups (up to 25, 26–35, 36–50, 51–65, and over 65), and living or studying in the Milan area (Lombardy)—an area affected severely by COVID-19 in the period March–May 2020. The obtained questionnaire results allowed the authors to create a set of guidelines for apartment design, intended to improve their spatial performance. The observations made when creating the case study projects led to two main conclusions: First, at the level of the house plan, the arrangement of the plan should be free and adaptable, al-lowing for fast alteration by the user. Second, the project should be tailor-made, highly specialized, and purposefully designed at the level of home office design, including appropriate furnishings, technical appliances, and lighting systems.</p>
</abstract>

The influence of global lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the lives of many people. Once performed elsewhere, many activities had to be moved to private spaces of individual homes, influencing how people use their residential space, modifying their living and working conditions. The purpose of this study was to research the changes in the use of residential space through questionnaires addressed to respondents in five age groups (up to 25, 26–35, 36–50, 51–65, and over 65), and living or studying in the Milan area (Lombardy)—an area affected severely by COVID-19 in the period March–May 2020. The obtained questionnaire results allowed the authors to create a set of guidelines for apartment design, intended to improve their spatial performance. The observations made when creating the case study projects led to two main conclusions: First, at the level of the house plan, the arrangement of the plan should be free and adaptable, al-lowing for fast alteration by the user. Second, the project should be tailor-made, highly specialized, and purposefully designed at the level of home office design, including appropriate furnishings, technical appliances, and lighting systems.

Home Office: Working and Studying Spaces in Residential Interiors during and after Forced Social Isolation

Środowisko Mieszkaniowe/Housing Environment

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The influence of global lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the lives of many people. Once performed elsewhere, many activities had...

Home Office: Working and Studying Spaces in Residential Interiors during and after Forced Social Isolation

Published Online: Jul 31, 2022

Page range: 98 - 109

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/25438700sm.22.016.16594

Keywords
residential architecture and interior design, social isolation, lockdown, COVID-19 pandemic, working and studying routines, creativity

© 2022 Agata Bonenberg, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Home Office: Working and Studying Spaces in Residential Interiors during and after Forced Social Isolation

Published Online: Jul 31, 2022

Page range: 98 - 109

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/25438700sm.22.016.16594

Keywordsresidential architecture and interior design, social isolation, lockdown, COVID-19 pandemic, working and studying routines, creativity

© 2022 Agata Bonenberg, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
residential architecture and interior design, social isolation, lockdown, COVID-19 pandemic, working and studying routines, creativity