diff --git a/src/components/AppToolbar.vue b/src/components/AppToolbar.vue
index 74efdcf..e71a0f1 100644
--- a/src/components/AppToolbar.vue
+++ b/src/components/AppToolbar.vue
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
         <div class="toolbar-spacer" />
 
-        <!-- Pane toggles (chat, workspace) -->
+        <!-- Pane toggles -->
         <button
             class="toolbar-pill toolbar-pill-icon"
             :class="{ active: isPaneOpen('chat') }"
@@ -19,11 +19,27 @@
         </button>
         <button
             class="toolbar-pill toolbar-pill-icon"
-            :class="{ active: isPaneOpen('workspace') }"
-            @click="togglePane('workspace')"
-            title="Workspace"
+            :class="{ active: isPaneOpen('dashboard') }"
+            @click="togglePane('dashboard')"
+            title="Dashboard"
         >
-            <RectangleStackIcon class="w-4 h-4" />
+            <RectangleGroupIcon class="w-4 h-4" />
+        </button>
+        <button
+            class="toolbar-pill toolbar-pill-icon"
+            :class="{ active: isPaneOpen('files') }"
+            @click="togglePane('files')"
+            title="Files"
+        >
+            <FolderIcon class="w-4 h-4" />
+        </button>
+        <button
+            class="toolbar-pill toolbar-pill-icon"
+            :class="{ active: isPaneOpen('artifacts') }"
+            @click="togglePane('artifacts')"
+            title="Artifacts"
+        >
+            <SparklesIcon class="w-4 h-4" />
         </button>
 
         <div class="toolbar-divider" />
@@ -102,7 +118,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 defineOptions({ name: 'AppToolbar' });
 import { ref, computed, type Component } from 'vue';
-import { WifiIcon, SignalIcon, QueueListIcon, CpuChipIcon, EyeIcon, CircleStackIcon, ChatBubbleLeftIcon, RectangleStackIcon } from '@heroicons/vue/20/solid';
+import { WifiIcon, SignalIcon, QueueListIcon, CpuChipIcon, EyeIcon, CircleStackIcon, ChatBubbleLeftIcon, RectangleGroupIcon, FolderIcon, SparklesIcon } from '@heroicons/vue/20/solid';
 import { THEME_ICONS, THEME_NAMES, useTheme, type Theme } from '../composables/useTheme';
 import { ws, auth, agents, takeover } from '../store';
 import { useChatStore } from '../store/chat';
diff --git a/src/components/ArtifactsPane.vue b/src/components/ArtifactsPane.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..304d777
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ArtifactsPane.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="artifacts-pane" :class="orientation">
+    <div class="artifacts-bar">
+      <span class="artifacts-label">Artifacts</span>
+      <button class="orient-btn" @click="toggleOrientation" :title="orientation === 'vertical' ? 'Switch to horizontal' : 'Switch to vertical'">
+        <component :is="orientation === 'vertical' ? Bars3Icon : Bars3BottomLeftIcon" class="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+      </button>
+    </div>
+    <div class="artifacts-body">
+      <span class="artifacts-hint">saved artifacts</span>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup lang="ts">
+defineOptions({ name: 'ArtifactsPane' });
+import { ref } from 'vue';
+import { Bars3Icon, Bars3BottomLeftIcon } from '@heroicons/vue/20/solid';
+
+const orientation = ref<'vertical' | 'horizontal'>('vertical');
+function toggleOrientation() {
+  orientation.value = orientation.value === 'vertical' ? 'horizontal' : 'vertical';
+}
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.artifacts-pane {
+  display: flex;
+  height: 100%;
+  min-height: 0;
+  min-width: 0;
+  background: var(--bg);
+}
+
+/* Vertical: bar on top, body below */
+.artifacts-pane.vertical {
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+.artifacts-pane.vertical .artifacts-bar {
+  flex-direction: row;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+  padding: 0 8px;
+  height: 32px;
+}
+.artifacts-pane.vertical .artifacts-body {
+  flex: 1;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
+
+/* Horizontal: bar on left, body to the right */
+.artifacts-pane.horizontal {
+  flex-direction: row;
+}
+.artifacts-pane.horizontal .artifacts-bar {
+  flex-direction: column;
+  border-right: 1px solid var(--border);
+  padding: 8px 0;
+  width: 32px;
+}
+.artifacts-pane.horizontal .artifacts-body {
+  flex: 1;
+  flex-direction: row;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
+
+.artifacts-bar {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 4px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  background: var(--bg-dim, var(--bg));
+}
+
+.artifacts-label {
+  font-size: 0.65rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  opacity: 0.5;
+  writing-mode: initial;
+}
+.artifacts-pane.horizontal .artifacts-label {
+  writing-mode: vertical-rl;
+  transform: rotate(180deg);
+}
+
+.orient-btn {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 22px;
+  height: 22px;
+  border: none;
+  background: none;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  opacity: 0.5;
+  transition: opacity 0.12s;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.orient-btn:hover { opacity: 1; }
+
+.artifacts-body {
+  display: flex;
+  opacity: 0.25;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  font-size: 0.65rem;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/src/components/ContentLayout.vue b/src/components/ContentLayout.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d4e65f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ContentLayout.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="content-layout" :class="direction" ref="containerRef">
+
+    <div v-if="isChatOpen" class="slot slot-chat">
+      <slot name="chat" />
+    </div>
+
+    <div v-if="isDashboardOpen" class="slot slot-dashboard">
+      <slot name="dashboard" />
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Files + Artifacts share one "thin" wrapper.
+         In row mode:  thin is a vertical strip on the right.
+         In col mode:  thin is a horizontal bar at the bottom. -->
+    <div v-if="isThinVisible" class="slot slot-thin">
+      <div v-if="isFilesOpen" class="slot slot-files">
+        <slot name="files" />
+      </div>
+      <div v-if="isArtifactsOpen" class="slot slot-artifacts">
+        <slot name="artifacts" />
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup lang="ts">
+defineOptions({ name: 'ContentLayout' });
+import { ref, computed, onMounted, onBeforeUnmount } from 'vue';
+import { usePanels } from '../composables/usePanels';
+
+const { isChatOpen, isDashboardOpen, isFilesOpen, isArtifactsOpen } = usePanels();
+
+const isThinVisible = computed(() => isFilesOpen.value || isArtifactsOpen.value);
+
+// --- Direction: row when landscape, col when portrait-ish ---
+const containerRef = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null);
+const direction = ref<'row' | 'col'>('row');
+
+let ro: ResizeObserver | null = null;
+
+function onResize(entries: ResizeObserverEntry[]) {
+  const entry = entries[0];
+  if (!entry) return;
+  const { width, height } = entry.contentRect;
+  // Flip to col when width is not at least 1.5× height
+  direction.value = width >= height * 1.5 ? 'row' : 'col';
+}
+
+onMounted(() => {
+  if (!containerRef.value) return;
+  ro = new ResizeObserver(onResize);
+  ro.observe(containerRef.value);
+});
+
+onBeforeUnmount(() => {
+  ro?.disconnect();
+});
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.content-layout {
+  display: flex;
+  flex: 1;
+  min-height: 0;
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+/* ── Slots ─────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+.slot {
+  min-width: 0;
+  min-height: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  position: relative;
+}
+
+/* ── Row mode: horizontal distribution ─────────────────── */
+.content-layout.row {
+  flex-direction: row;
+}
+.content-layout.row .slot-chat      { flex: 40 1 0; border-right: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.content-layout.row .slot-dashboard { flex: 40 1 0; border-right: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.content-layout.row .slot-thin      { flex: 10 1 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
+.content-layout.row .slot-files     { flex: 1 1 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.content-layout.row .slot-artifacts { flex: 1 1 0; }
+
+/* Remove trailing border on last visible slot in row */
+.content-layout.row .slot-thin:last-child,
+.content-layout.row .slot-dashboard:last-child,
+.content-layout.row .slot-chat:last-child {
+  border-right: none;
+}
+
+/* ── Col mode: vertical distribution ───────────────────── */
+.content-layout.col {
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+.content-layout.col .slot-chat      { flex: 40 1 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.content-layout.col .slot-dashboard { flex: 40 1 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.content-layout.col .slot-thin      { flex: 10 1 0; display: flex; flex-direction: row; }
+.content-layout.col .slot-files     { flex: 1 1 0; border-right: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.content-layout.col .slot-artifacts { flex: 1 1 0; }
+
+/* Remove trailing border on last visible slot in col */
+.content-layout.col .slot-thin:last-child,
+.content-layout.col .slot-dashboard:last-child,
+.content-layout.col .slot-chat:last-child {
+  border-bottom: none;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/src/components/DashboardPane.vue b/src/components/DashboardPane.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..99f1e61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/DashboardPane.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="dashboard-pane">
+    <div class="dashboard-empty">
+      <span class="dashboard-label">Dashboard</span>
+      <span class="dashboard-hint">Artifacts and controls from the agent appear here</span>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup lang="ts">
+defineOptions({ name: 'DashboardPane' });
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.dashboard-pane {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  height: 100%;
+  min-height: 0;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  background: var(--bg);
+}
+.dashboard-empty {
+  flex: 1;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  opacity: 0.4;
+}
+.dashboard-label {
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+}
+.dashboard-hint {
+  font-size: 0.72rem;
+  text-align: center;
+  max-width: 160px;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/src/components/FilesPane.vue b/src/components/FilesPane.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11e0660
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/FilesPane.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+<template>
+  <div class="files-pane" :class="orientation">
+    <div class="files-bar">
+      <span class="files-label">Files</span>
+      <button class="orient-btn" @click="toggleOrientation" :title="orientation === 'vertical' ? 'Switch to horizontal' : 'Switch to vertical'">
+        <component :is="orientation === 'vertical' ? Bars3Icon : Bars3BottomLeftIcon" class="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+      </button>
+    </div>
+    <div class="files-body">
+      <span class="files-hint">file tree</span>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup lang="ts">
+defineOptions({ name: 'FilesPane' });
+import { ref } from 'vue';
+import { Bars3Icon, Bars3BottomLeftIcon } from '@heroicons/vue/20/solid';
+
+const orientation = ref<'vertical' | 'horizontal'>('vertical');
+function toggleOrientation() {
+  orientation.value = orientation.value === 'vertical' ? 'horizontal' : 'vertical';
+}
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.files-pane {
+  display: flex;
+  height: 100%;
+  min-height: 0;
+  min-width: 0;
+  background: var(--bg);
+}
+
+/* Vertical: bar on top, body below */
+.files-pane.vertical {
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+.files-pane.vertical .files-bar {
+  flex-direction: row;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+  padding: 0 8px;
+  height: 32px;
+}
+.files-pane.vertical .files-body {
+  flex: 1;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
+
+/* Horizontal: bar on left, body to the right */
+.files-pane.horizontal {
+  flex-direction: row;
+}
+.files-pane.horizontal .files-bar {
+  flex-direction: column;
+  border-right: 1px solid var(--border);
+  padding: 8px 0;
+  width: 32px;
+}
+.files-pane.horizontal .files-body {
+  flex: 1;
+  flex-direction: row;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
+
+.files-bar {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 4px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  background: var(--bg-dim, var(--bg));
+}
+
+.files-label {
+  font-size: 0.65rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  opacity: 0.5;
+  writing-mode: initial;
+}
+.files-pane.horizontal .files-label {
+  writing-mode: vertical-rl;
+  transform: rotate(180deg);
+}
+
+.orient-btn {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 22px;
+  height: 22px;
+  border: none;
+  background: none;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  opacity: 0.5;
+  transition: opacity 0.12s;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.orient-btn:hover { opacity: 1; }
+
+.files-body {
+  display: flex;
+  opacity: 0.25;
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+  font-size: 0.65rem;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/src/composables/usePanels.ts b/src/composables/usePanels.ts
index 9614c47..e27fb96 100644
--- a/src/composables/usePanels.ts
+++ b/src/composables/usePanels.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { ref, computed, type Component } from 'vue';
 import tenant from '../tenant';
 
 // Top-level panes (columns)
-export type PaneId = 'chat' | 'workspace';
+export type PaneId = 'chat' | 'dashboard' | 'files' | 'artifacts';
 // Debug panels (stacked inside the debug column)
 export type PanelId = 'graph' | 'trace' | 'nodes' | 'awareness';
 export type PanelLocation = 'side' | 'bottom';
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ function saveSet(key: string, ids: Set<string>) {
 
 // Module-level state (survives HMR)
 const openPanelIds = ref<Set<PanelId>>(loadSet<PanelId>(PANELS_KEY, []));
-const openPaneIds = ref<Set<PaneId>>(loadSet<PaneId>(PANES_KEY, ['chat']));
+const openPaneIds = ref<Set<PaneId>>(loadSet<PaneId>(PANES_KEY, ['chat', 'dashboard']));
 
 export function usePanels() {
     // Current role
@@ -108,8 +108,10 @@ export function usePanels() {
     const hasDebugColumn = hasSidePanels;
 
     // Pane state
-    const isChatOpen = computed(() => openPaneIds.value.has('chat'));
-    const isWorkspaceOpen = computed(() => openPaneIds.value.has('workspace'));
+    const isChatOpen      = computed(() => openPaneIds.value.has('chat'));
+    const isDashboardOpen = computed(() => openPaneIds.value.has('dashboard'));
+    const isFilesOpen     = computed(() => openPaneIds.value.has('files'));
+    const isArtifactsOpen = computed(() => openPaneIds.value.has('artifacts'));
 
     function togglePanel(id: PanelId) {
         const next = new Set(openPanelIds.value);
@@ -158,7 +160,9 @@ export function usePanels() {
         openPanelIds,
         // Top-level panes
         isChatOpen,
-        isWorkspaceOpen,
+        isDashboardOpen,
+        isFilesOpen,
+        isArtifactsOpen,
         togglePane,
         isPaneOpen,
         openPaneIds,
diff --git a/src/views/AgentsView.vue b/src/views/AgentsView.vue
index 267dc59..552aaa1 100644
--- a/src/views/AgentsView.vue
+++ b/src/views/AgentsView.vue
@@ -24,33 +24,39 @@
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <!-- 3-column layout: chat | workspace | debug -->
+      <!-- Main layout: content unit + debug column -->
       <div v-show="!showPicker" class="pane-layout">
-        <!-- Chat column -->
-        <ChatPane
-            v-if="isChatOpen"
-            ref="chatPaneRef"
-            class="pane-column"
-            :connected="connected"
-            :selectedAgent="selectedAgent"
-            :selectedMode="selectedMode"
-            :allAgents="allAgents"
-            :defaultAgent="defaultAgent || ''"
-            :wsSend="wsSend"
-            :viewActive="viewActive"
-            @hud-update="onHudUpdate"
-        />
 
-        <!-- Workspace column -->
-        <WorkspacePane
-            v-if="isWorkspaceOpen"
-            class="pane-column"
-        />
+        <!-- Content unit: Chat · Dashboard · Files · Artifacts -->
+        <ContentLayout class="pane-content">
+          <template #chat>
+            <ChatPane
+                ref="chatPaneRef"
+                :connected="connected"
+                :selectedAgent="selectedAgent"
+                :selectedMode="selectedMode"
+                :allAgents="allAgents"
+                :defaultAgent="defaultAgent || ''"
+                :wsSend="wsSend"
+                :viewActive="viewActive"
+                @hud-update="onHudUpdate"
+            />
+          </template>
+          <template #dashboard>
+            <DashboardPane />
+          </template>
+          <template #files>
+            <FilesPane />
+          </template>
+          <template #artifacts>
+            <ArtifactsPane />
+          </template>
+        </ContentLayout>
 
-        <!-- Debug column (stacked panels) -->
+        <!-- Debug column (stacked panels, fixed width) -->
         <DebugColumn
             v-if="hasDebugColumn"
-            class="pane-column pane-debug"
+            class="pane-debug"
             :hudTree="hudState.hudTree"
             :hudVersion="hudState.hudVersion"
             :connected="hudState.connected"
@@ -72,7 +78,10 @@ import { ws, auth, agents } from '../store';
 import { usePanels } from '../composables/usePanels';
 import { LockClosedIcon, UserGroupIcon } from '@heroicons/vue/20/solid';
 import ChatPane from '../components/ChatPane.vue';
-import WorkspacePane from '../components/WorkspacePane.vue';
+import ContentLayout from '../components/ContentLayout.vue';
+import DashboardPane from '../components/DashboardPane.vue';
+import FilesPane from '../components/FilesPane.vue';
+import ArtifactsPane from '../components/ArtifactsPane.vue';
 import DebugColumn from '../components/DebugColumn.vue';
 
 import router from '../router';
@@ -80,7 +89,7 @@ import router from '../router';
 const agentsRoute = useRoute();
 
 // Pane visibility
-const { isChatOpen, isWorkspaceOpen, hasDebugColumn } = usePanels();
+const { hasDebugColumn } = usePanels();
 
 // Auth + agents
 const { connected, send: wsSend } = ws;
@@ -146,29 +155,27 @@ watch([selectedAgent, selectedMode], ([agent, mode], [oldAgent, oldMode]) => {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
-/* 3-column pane layout */
+/* Outer layout: content unit + debug column */
 .pane-layout {
     flex: 1;
     display: flex;
+    flex-direction: row;
     min-height: 0;
     overflow: hidden;
 }
 
-.pane-column {
+/* Content unit fills all remaining space */
+.pane-content {
     flex: 1;
     min-width: 0;
     min-height: 0;
-    border-left: 1px solid var(--border);
-    overflow: hidden;
-}
-.pane-column:first-child {
-    border-left: none;
 }
 
-/* Debug column: fixed width */
+/* Debug column: fixed width, separated by border */
 .pane-debug {
     flex: 0 0 320px;
     max-width: 400px;
+    border-left: 1px solid var(--border);
 }
 
 /* Agent picker (no agent selected) */