A comprehensive guide to building integrated living and work spaces

"The live-work unit is the natural habitat of mankind. Dwellings—from palace to hovel—have always included places of work. It is only in this past century of suburban madness that the connection has been lost. Tom Dolan's book is not radical—it is merely a recall to sanity."—Andrés Duany, CNU, FAIA

"An exciting and clear blueprint for the kind of shared home/office design that is gaining momentum throughout the country. Having enjoyed the live-work lifestyle for many years, I hope this book will encourage others to try it."—Carol Coletta, Director, ArtPlace

As suburban models of separated-use zoning fade in importance, live-work, which offers both flexibility and zero-commute living, has emerged as the ultimate mixed-use type. Live-work refers to buildings and mixed-use neighborhoods that concentrate all of life's functions in one place. Advances in computer and networking technologies allow more people to work from home, leading to a renewed interest in this hybrid land-use and building type.

Live-Work Planning and Design walks readers through the entire process of getting live-work projects designed, approved, and built. The author draws on more than twenty-five years of experience in the field, examining in detail a wide range of project types, including courtyard communities, flexhouses, housing over retail, artists' studios, lofts, condominiums, and more. Numerous case studies and real-world examples highlight both successful and failed projects, with an emphasis on integrating buildings into the neighborhood to help projects succeed.

Complete with hundreds of photos and illustrations of live-work and zero-commute housing types, this book discusses the market for live-work, provides guidance for both new construction and renovation, and describes how various municipalities have incorporated live-work into city plans.

Architects, urban planners, developers, and builders of live-work projects will find this book an insightful and highly practical resource. It is also valuable for zoning officials and urban planners working on planning and building codes and urban designs that incorporate live-work projects.