The home-factory, the shop-house or the loft exist all over, in the small alleyways of Tokyo, the colonial precincts of Singapore, the designer studios of Berlin and New York. They are making a big comeback. For millions around the world, the choice or compulsion to work from home is a reality. Working from home—whether as an artisan, a professional, or a home owner renting out a portion of the house—has shaped cities throughout history. It was during the 20th century that modern urban planning saw mixed-use dwellings as promiscuous and hazardous, and tried to sort cities out along functionalist lines. However, whenever planning norms were weakly enforced, or deliberately relaxed, the industrious home thrived.

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