EXPERIMENT AND VERIFICATION ON CO-WORKING SPACE USABLE WITH CHILDREN

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  • 子連れ利用可能なコワークスペースに関する実験と検証
  • コズレ リヨウ カノウ ナ コ ワークス ペース ニ カンスル ジッケン ト ケンショウ

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Abstract

 With more people looking to continue their careers through parenthood, families are facing a host of difficult problems as they attempt to find a work-life balance. For example, there is now a shortage of daycare facilities as well as problems arising from long work hours and extended time in daycare. One solution for working parents wanting to spend more time with their kids is to create environments where people can bring their children and get work done without disturbing their fellow employees. Being able to catch a glimpse of what their parents do for a living can also have positive effects on children in terms of their education.<br> Our seed idea is based on the concept of a workspace where people can bring their children. We actually created this child-friendly space and then interviewed and held workshops with people who used it in order to gain further insight. We also collected knowledge through the process of designing, using, and operating (testing) the space.<br> These spaces have tremendous potential over a broad range of applications. They can be a space for parents and children to be together in the evenings or at night, can be used temporarily by families who cannot put their children in daycare for some reason, they can be an alternative to club activities for children during summer holidays, a place where fathers can bring their children to work occasionally, and serve a variety of other gathering-place functions.<br> There has already been a great deal of research on spaces for children (such as daycare facilities) and on workspaces (such as offices). There have been no studies done, however, on spaces that are in-between—those that are suited both to children's activities and parents’work—despite the fact that these spaces represent an underlying need for modern people. Today's parents are looking for new types of spaces that can support fresh ways of achieving work-life balance.<br> The Nagoya University Multigenerational Communication Space includes several small areas that are just the right size for kids to play in or for adults to hold small meetings. The small areas are divided by small openings and walls with countertops that keep them connected, yet separate from one another.<br> In order to demonstrate that a space where we can take care of children while working is actually established, parents conducted behavior observation for about 15.75 hours and a user interview. As a result, it was found that keeping appropriate distance between parents and children is important by creating enough space and the partition screen for dividing them. In terms of lifestyle, this kind of space was useful in the situation that parents could not help working while taking care of their children despite being unable to find their space. Furthermore, it proved that this space provides them not only time to work and play together but also mental support for them.

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