diff --git a/contrib/per-workspace-layout.pl b/contrib/per-workspace-layout.pl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9304b6fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/per-workspace-layout.pl
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env perl
+# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+# © 2012 Michael Stapelberg
+# Licensed under BSD license, see http://code.i3wm.org/i3/tree/LICENSE
+#
+# Append this line to your i3 config file:
+#     exec_always ~/per-workspace-layout.pl
+#
+# Then, change the %layouts hash like you want your workspaces to be set up.
+# This script requires i3 >= v4.4 for the extended workspace event.
+
+use strict;
+use warnings;
+use AnyEvent;
+use AnyEvent::I3;
+use v5.10;
+
+my %layouts = (
+    '4' => 'tabbed',
+    '5' => 'stacked',
+);
+
+my $i3 = i3();
+
+die "Could not connect to i3: $!" unless $i3->connect->recv();
+
+die "Could not subscribe to the workspace event: $!" unless
+    $i3->subscribe({
+        workspace => sub {
+            my ($msg) = @_;
+            return unless $msg->{change} eq 'focus';
+            die "Your version of i3 is too old. You need >= v4.4"
+                unless exists($msg->{current});
+            my $ws = $msg->{current};
+
+            # If the workspace already has children, don’t change the layout.
+            return unless scalar @{$ws->{nodes}} == 0;
+
+            my $name = $ws->{name};
+            my $con_id = $ws->{id};
+
+            return unless exists $layouts{$name};
+
+            $i3->command(qq|[con_id="$con_id"] layout | . $layouts{$name});
+        },
+        _error => sub {
+            my ($msg) = @_;
+            say "AnyEvent::I3 error: $msg";
+            say "Exiting.";
+            exit 1;
+        },
+    })->recv->{success};
+
+# Run forever.
+AnyEvent->condvar->recv