Remote Work and Cities

The shift towards remote work has transformed the rhythm of many city centres.

向远程办公的转变改变了许多城市中心的节奏。

Office buildings that were once crowded now often stand half empty.

曾经人满为患的写字楼，如今常常有一半是空的。

Cafés and shops that relied on commuters have struggled to survive.

依赖通勤族的咖啡馆和商店一直在艰难求生。

At the same time, smaller towns have seen an influx of new residents.

与此同时，较小的城镇迎来了大批新居民。

Many workers have swapped long commutes for more space and cheaper housing.

许多上班族用漫长的通勤换来了更大的空间和更便宜的住房。

Some cities are now converting unused offices into flats and community spaces.

一些城市现在正把闲置的办公室改造成公寓和社区空间。

Such projects are complicated, as office buildings are rarely designed for living.

这类项目很复杂，因为写字楼很少是为居住而设计的。

Urban planners believe city centres must become places to visit, not just to work.

城市规划者认为，市中心必须成为人们愿意前往游览的地方，而不仅仅是工作的地方。

How successfully they adapt will shape urban life for decades to come.

它们适应得有多成功，将决定未来几十年的城市生活。