Lauren Leyva
Crocus Yard: Rethinking Live-Work
My project “Crocus Yard: Rethinking Live-Work” is part of the Material Language unit. The unit specifically focusses on how both the technical and poetic characteristics of all materials can be used to create high quality buildings that successfully respond to the culture and context of the area.
My thesis research portfolio allowed me to explore the live-work typology in detail, which triggered the focus on a new hybrid approach to 'live-work'. My attitude towards ‘live-work’ is based on the ‘live-near’ relationship. The attitude and proposed design seeks to offer a place that allows residents to have a visual connection to workspaces from within the courtyards or along the street edges, yet encourage a physical separation. In addition to this overall approach, the scheme offers some flexibility in the family houses to the South of the scheme.
The scheme is tailored towards female professionals and their families. The pandemic has resulted in less women returning to the office than men, and it has been argued that women who work mostly from home risk hurting their careers and getting caught in a “she-session” (Sweney, 2021). To recognise the collaborative and diverse nature of work that can now be completed in remote locations, this project will look to integrate women from a variety of backgrounds, such as technology, the creative arts, finance and entrepreneurship.
Lauren Leyva's work
Student Biography
Lauren has recently graduated from the Part 2 course at the University of Nottingham after completing her final thesis focussed on the live-work typology. She is particularly interested in how architecture and design can shape the way we live and work, particularly supporting women. She hopes to engage in future projects that enhance the future of this sector.