Remote work may become a permanent way of life for many after the coronavirus crisis ends, with some companies already giving their employees the option to work from home forever.

In response to how COVID-19 continues to reshape our lives, Paris-based architecture firm Studio BELEM has proposed Aula Modula, a conceptual live/work urban housing scheme that caters for these societal changes by emphasizing flexibility, community and sustainability.

Envisioned for a post-COVID-19 world, Aula Modula combines elements of high-density urban living with greater access to nature. The concept is an evolution of traditional western architectural and urban planning models that have been unchanged for years and fail to take into account diminishing greenery in cities, rising commute times and the conveniences afforded by the internet.

In addition to providing individual home offices to each apartment, the live/work complex includes communal access to a central courtyard and terraces to promote a sense of community — both social and professional — between residents and workers.

What’s more, the architects propose to construct the development primarily from timber to reduce the project’s carbon footprint. The design also includes various features to ensure good management of resources, including green roofs irrigated with recycled and treated wastewater, as well as a series of terraced vegetable gardens and a communal greenhouse warmed with recovered thermal energy from the building.

Finally, residents would have easy access to retail and recreational services, such as a grocery store, craft brewery and yoga studio.