Designing Multi-Family Residences in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Addressing Workspace Privacy Needs

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected every aspect of human life. Among the myriad changes, it catalyzed a significant shift in the way we perceive and use our living spaces. The home, traditionally seen as a refuge from work and external pressures, rapidly became a multifunctional space, doubling as an office, school, gym, and recreation center. Before the pandemic, open-plan living was on the rise, championing multifunctional spaces. However, with the sudden need for remote work, the demand for dedicated home offices or quiet corners became evident. People began to value having a distinct, quiet workspace that would not disturb other members of the household. In this paper, we highlight the importance of incorporating a separate room, distanced from the main private areas of a home, during the early design stages. This approach enhances privacy and subsequently boosts the psychological well-being of the household occupants. The research contributes to building-system integration by demonstrating how architectural configurations and spatial design elements can be optimized to enhance building performance, functionality, and occupant comfort in multi-family residential structures. The aim of this study is to explore the correlations between spatial design quality and occupants’ productivity while working from home. It employs a mixed-methods approach that combines various techniques to provide comprehensive analyses.