Spatial Characteristics of Home as Workplace: Investigation of Home-Based Enterprise in Several Housing Typologies in Indonesia

Abstract

Home-based enterprises, which have grown considerably, use homes as microindustries, and are commonly run by families with the help of one to three workers. One challenge that home-based enterprises face is related to spatial conflicts between work and living areas, which can affect the quality of living spaces. This study investigates the spatial characteristics of homes with home-based enterprises to understand how they are used for income-generating activities and how the spatial characteristics of these homes vary between different industry sectors. This investigation is conducted to find a reasonable concept of flexibility at home that allows for income-generating activities that minimize the spatial conflicts between activities, while maintaining sufficient living space quality. This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews with homeowners and quantitative surveys of twenty-nine homes used as workplaces in three cities in Indonesia. The samples represented some housing typologies used in various sectors of home-based industries. The results showed that the spatial characteristics of indeterminant spaces, such as slack, neutral, and joined spaces, as well as the disposition of kitchens with other spaces in the same zone, provided opportunities for juxtaposing the two activities during both day and night. The findings suggest that integrating indeterminant spaces in a housing design can offer more flexibility and adaptability to residential spaces for both dwelling and working, while mitigating the negative impacts of using homes as workplaces.