Abstract:
This thesis aims to explore the idea of a co-working and co-living space that provides a
headquarters for upcoming graduates and service sector businesses in the city of Islamabad;
enabling them to create, exhibit and sell their work. The goal is to design a collaborative
workspace and living space that provides these users with all the basic facilities to kick start a
professional practice.
The city of Islamabad, has till now, failed to provide such a platform for afore mentioned people,
bringing forth a need to address both residential and work space issues. Places that offer users
the freedom to work as they please seem to be quite scarce in the city, forcing them to setup
temporary workspaces that do not accommodate all their requirements.
The rise in small businesses and improvements in technology initially led to many people utilizing
where they live for their business ventures. But nowadays, things have developed past using a
cramped bedroom or office study. The amalgamation of living and workingspaces has led to the
formation of Live//Work spaces. This is actually an old concept of "living above your store" found
in many small towns all over the country. These spaces are partly work-orientated and are often
popular in renovated warehouse/building developments. As people favour working in an
independent working space where a certain common interest lies in the surrounding, they are
constantly searching for mutual work stands and spaces where other professionals of common
and varied interests work and live together.
