Hi ho, Hi ho, It's off to work where we live

This London Times article details a radical proposal by a London designer to have empty office space in corporate buildings converted to living space for employees of that company.

Basically, you would pretty much live where you worked.

Pros of this concept include eliminating many commuters, which could, in turn, help alleviate traffic congestion. It would also utilize unused office spaces and provide additional housing options.

The obvious downside is that you'd be living with the people you work with day in and day out. Plus, you'd be living right there at work, essentially. So those folks who are married to their jobs would likely be even moreso if their office was just upstairs/downstairs/down the hall.

On a similar note, St. Norbert College here in De Pere, WI purchased several homes around the campus... Professors were allowed to live in them with the understanding that if/when the college wanted to expand, they had to give up their home. Not sure if the houses were purchased, rented or what, but you get the gist.

I guess I could see it working, especially in a big city where commutes can be well over an hour and housing is ridiculously expensive. And if the company is subsidizing the cost, all the better.