diff --git a/client/src/components/run/LaneConsolePane.tsx b/client/src/components/run/LaneConsolePane.tsx
index 523ca4e..76d4558 100644
--- a/client/src/components/run/LaneConsolePane.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/run/LaneConsolePane.tsx
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@ export function LaneConsolePane({
     onHasActiveRunChange?.(handle !== null);
   }, [handle, onHasActiveRunChange]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!currentLane && defaultCwd && cwd === "") {
+      setCwd(defaultCwd);
+    }
+  }, [defaultCwd, currentLane, cwd]);
+
   const refreshList = useCallback(() => {
     if (laneId !== null) {
       api.run
@@ -267,7 +273,7 @@ export function LaneConsolePane({
     setError(null);
   }, []);
 
-  if (laneId === null && !showLaneSelector) {
+  if (laneId === null && showLaneSelector) {
     return (
       <div data-testid="pane-empty" className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-2 p-4">
         <select
@@ -354,9 +360,9 @@ export function LaneConsolePane({
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {!handle && laneId !== null ? (
+      {!handle ? (
         <RunSetup
-          laneId={laneId}
+          laneId={laneId ?? 0}
           prompt={prompt}
           onPromptChange={setPrompt}
           cwd={cwd}
@@ -378,8 +384,6 @@ export function LaneConsolePane({
           runHistory={runHistory}
           onResumeFromHistory={onResumeFromHistory}
         />
-      ) : !handle && laneId === null ? (
-        <p className="text-sm text-fg-muted">{tLanes("splitView.pickLane")}</p>
       ) : (
         <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 flex flex-col">
           <TerminalView
diff --git a/client/src/components/run/__tests__/LaneConsolePane.test.tsx b/client/src/components/run/__tests__/LaneConsolePane.test.tsx
index 2c356da..f2da041 100644
--- a/client/src/components/run/__tests__/LaneConsolePane.test.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/run/__tests__/LaneConsolePane.test.tsx
@@ -132,16 +132,16 @@ describe("LaneConsolePane", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByTestId("pane-lane-select")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  it("renders an empty placeholder when laneId is null and showLaneSelector is false", () => {
+  it("renders RunSetup when laneId is null and showLaneSelector is false (layout-1, fresh install)", () => {
     render(<LaneConsolePane {...baseProps()} laneId={null} showLaneSelector={false} />);
-    expect(screen.getByTestId("pane-empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.queryByTestId("console-body")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
-  });
-
-  it("renders the full console with selector when laneId is null but showLaneSelector is true", () => {
-    render(<LaneConsolePane {...baseProps()} laneId={null} showLaneSelector={true} />);
     expect(screen.getByTestId("console-body")).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByTestId("pane-lane-select")).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.queryByTestId("pane-empty")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
+
+  it("renders an empty placeholder with selector when laneId is null but showLaneSelector is true (split-view)", () => {
+    render(<LaneConsolePane {...baseProps()} laneId={null} showLaneSelector={true} />);
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("pane-empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("pane-lane-select")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("console-body")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/client/src/pages/Workspace.tsx b/client/src/pages/Workspace.tsx
index b76090f..8af732d 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/Workspace.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/Workspace.tsx
@@ -533,6 +533,26 @@ export function Workspace() {
         </section>
       )}
 
+      {!currentLane && (
+        <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-col gap-2">
+          <LaneConsolePane
+            lanes={lanes}
+            laneId={selectedLaneId}
+            showLaneSelector={false}
+            onLaneIdChange={(id) => setSelectedLaneId(id)}
+            onLaneCreated={(lane) =>
+              setLanes((prev) => (prev.some((l) => l.id === lane.id) ? prev : [...prev, lane]))
+            }
+            binaryStatus={binaryStatus}
+            cwdSuggestions={cwdSuggestions}
+            activeRuns={activeRuns}
+            wsConnected={wsConnected}
+            defaultCwd={defaultCwd}
+            onHasActiveRunChange={setPaneHasActiveRun}
+          />
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       <AddLaneModal
         open={addLaneOpen}
         cwdSuggestions={cwdSuggestions}
@@ -552,28 +572,6 @@ export function Workspace() {
           {tLanes("actionError", { message: laneActionError })}
         </p>
       )}
-
-      {/* No lane selected (none exist, or nothing picked yet): the console has
-          nowhere to attach, so it falls back to page level. Without this the
-          start form would be unreachable on a fresh install. */}
-      {!currentLane && (
-        <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-col gap-2">
-          <LaneConsolePane
-            lanes={lanes}
-            laneId={selectedLaneId}
-            showLaneSelector={true}
-            onLaneIdChange={(id) => setSelectedLaneId(id)}
-            onLaneCreated={(lane) =>
-              setLanes((prev) => (prev.some((l) => l.id === lane.id) ? prev : [...prev, lane]))
-            }
-            binaryStatus={binaryStatus}
-            cwdSuggestions={cwdSuggestions}
-            activeRuns={activeRuns}
-            wsConnected={wsConnected}
-            defaultCwd={defaultCwd}
-          />
-        </div>
-      )}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/client/src/pages/__tests__/__snapshots__/screens.snapshot.test.tsx.snap b/client/src/pages/__tests__/__snapshots__/screens.snapshot.test.tsx.snap
index 71c6989..e2d4a45 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/__tests__/__snapshots__/screens.snapshot.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/client/src/pages/__tests__/__snapshots__/screens.snapshot.test.tsx.snap
@@ -4722,6 +4722,671 @@ exports[`screen snapshots > Claude Config 1`] = `
 </div>
 `;
 
+exports[`screen snapshots > Dashboard 1`] = `
+<div>
+  <div
+    class="flex flex-col gap-8 animate-fade-in min-h-[calc(100vh-4rem)]"
+  >
+    <div
+      class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3"
+    >
+      <div
+        class="flex items-center gap-3"
+      >
+        <div
+          class="w-9 h-9 rounded-xl bg-accent/15 flex items-center justify-center"
+        >
+          <svg
+            class="lucide lucide-layout-dashboard w-4.5 h-4.5 text-accent"
+            fill="none"
+            height="24"
+            stroke="currentColor"
+            stroke-linecap="round"
+            stroke-linejoin="round"
+            stroke-width="2"
+            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+            width="24"
+            xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+          >
+            <rect
+              height="9"
+              rx="1"
+              width="7"
+              x="3"
+              y="3"
+            />
+            <rect
+              height="5"
+              rx="1"
+              width="7"
+              x="14"
+              y="3"
+            />
+            <rect
+              height="9"
+              rx="1"
+              width="7"
+              x="14"
+              y="12"
+            />
+            <rect
+              height="5"
+              rx="1"
+              width="7"
+              x="3"
+              y="16"
+            />
+          </svg>
+        </div>
+        <div>
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center gap-2"
+          >
+            <h1
+              class="text-lg font-semibold text-fg-primary"
+            >
+              Dashboard
+            </h1>
+            <span
+              class="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[11px] text-status-success bg-status-success/10 border border-status-success/20 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full"
+            >
+              <span
+                class="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-status-success animate-pulse-dot"
+              />
+              Live
+            </span>
+          </div>
+          <p
+            class="text-xs text-fg-muted"
+          >
+            Real-time overview of Claude Code agent activity
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <div
+        class="flex items-center gap-3"
+      >
+        <div
+          class="flex bg-surface-2 rounded-lg p-0.5 border border-border"
+        >
+          <button
+            class="px-2.5 py-1.5 rounded-md text-xs font-medium transition-all flex items-center gap-2 bg-accent/15 text-accent shadow-sm"
+          >
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-activity w-3.5 h-3.5"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <path
+                d="M22 12h-2.48a2 2 0 0 0-1.93 1.46l-2.35 8.36a.25.25 0 0 1-.48 0L9.24 2.18a.25.25 0 0 0-.48 0l-2.35 8.36A2 2 0 0 1 4.49 12H2"
+              />
+            </svg>
+             Monitor
+          </button>
+          <button
+            class="px-2.5 py-1.5 rounded-md text-xs font-medium transition-all flex items-center gap-2 text-fg-muted hover:text-fg-secondary"
+          >
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-server w-3.5 h-3.5"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <rect
+                height="8"
+                rx="2"
+                ry="2"
+                width="20"
+                x="2"
+                y="2"
+              />
+              <rect
+                height="8"
+                rx="2"
+                ry="2"
+                width="20"
+                x="2"
+                y="14"
+              />
+              <line
+                x1="6"
+                x2="6.01"
+                y1="6"
+                y2="6"
+              />
+              <line
+                x1="6"
+                x2="6.01"
+                y1="18"
+                y2="18"
+              />
+            </svg>
+             Health
+          </button>
+        </div>
+        <button
+          class="btn-ghost flex-shrink-0"
+        >
+          <svg
+            class="lucide lucide-refresh-cw w-4 h-4"
+            fill="none"
+            height="24"
+            stroke="currentColor"
+            stroke-linecap="round"
+            stroke-linejoin="round"
+            stroke-width="2"
+            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+            width="24"
+            xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+          >
+            <path
+              d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"
+            />
+            <path
+              d="M21 3v5h-5"
+            />
+            <path
+              d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"
+            />
+            <path
+              d="M8 16H3v5"
+            />
+          </svg>
+           
+          Refresh
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+    <div
+      class="flex-1 flex flex-col gap-8 min-h-0"
+    >
+      <div
+        class="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 gap-4"
+      >
+        <div
+          class="card p-5"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-3"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-muted uppercase tracking-wider truncate"
+            >
+              Total Sessions
+            </span>
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-folder-open w-5 h-5 flex-shrink-0 text-accent"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <path
+                d="m6 14 1.5-2.9A2 2 0 0 1 9.24 10H20a2 2 0 0 1 1.94 2.5l-1.54 6a2 2 0 0 1-1.95 1.5H4a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h3.9a2 2 0 0 1 1.69.9l.81 1.2a2 2 0 0 0 1.67.9H18a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2"
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex items-end gap-2 min-w-0"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="relative inline-block cursor-default"
+            >
+              <span
+                class="text-2xl font-semibold text-fg-primary truncate"
+              >
+                0
+              </span>
+            </span>
+            <span
+              class="text-xs text-fg-muted mb-1 flex-shrink-0"
+            >
+              0 active
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div
+          class="card p-5"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-3"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-muted uppercase tracking-wider truncate"
+            >
+              Active Agents
+            </span>
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-bot w-5 h-5 flex-shrink-0 text-status-success"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <path
+                d="M12 8V4H8"
+              />
+              <rect
+                height="12"
+                rx="2"
+                width="16"
+                x="4"
+                y="8"
+              />
+              <path
+                d="M2 14h2"
+              />
+              <path
+                d="M20 14h2"
+              />
+              <path
+                d="M15 13v2"
+              />
+              <path
+                d="M9 13v2"
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex items-end gap-2 min-w-0"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-2xl font-semibold text-fg-primary truncate"
+            >
+              0
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div
+          class="card p-5"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-3"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-muted uppercase tracking-wider truncate"
+            >
+              Active Subagents
+            </span>
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-git-branch w-5 h-5 flex-shrink-0 text-violet-400"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <line
+                x1="6"
+                x2="6"
+                y1="3"
+                y2="15"
+              />
+              <circle
+                cx="18"
+                cy="6"
+                r="3"
+              />
+              <circle
+                cx="6"
+                cy="18"
+                r="3"
+              />
+              <path
+                d="M18 9a9 9 0 0 1-9 9"
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex items-end gap-2 min-w-0"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-2xl font-semibold text-fg-primary truncate"
+            >
+              0
+            </span>
+            <span
+              class="text-xs text-fg-muted mb-1 flex-shrink-0"
+            >
+              0 in active sessions
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div
+          class="card p-5"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-3"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-muted uppercase tracking-wider truncate"
+            >
+              Events Today
+            </span>
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-zap w-5 h-5 flex-shrink-0 text-yellow-400"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <path
+                d="M4 14a1 1 0 0 1-.78-1.63l9.9-10.2a.5.5 0 0 1 .86.46l-1.92 6.02A1 1 0 0 0 13 10h7a1 1 0 0 1 .78 1.63l-9.9 10.2a.5.5 0 0 1-.86-.46l1.92-6.02A1 1 0 0 0 11 14z"
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex items-end gap-2 min-w-0"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="relative inline-block cursor-default"
+            >
+              <span
+                class="text-2xl font-semibold text-fg-primary truncate"
+              >
+                0
+              </span>
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div
+          class="card p-5"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-3"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-muted uppercase tracking-wider truncate"
+            >
+              Total Events
+            </span>
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-activity w-5 h-5 flex-shrink-0 text-violet-400"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <path
+                d="M22 12h-2.48a2 2 0 0 0-1.93 1.46l-2.35 8.36a.25.25 0 0 1-.48 0L9.24 2.18a.25.25 0 0 0-.48 0l-2.35 8.36A2 2 0 0 1 4.49 12H2"
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex items-end gap-2 min-w-0"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="relative inline-block cursor-default"
+            >
+              <span
+                class="text-2xl font-semibold text-fg-primary truncate"
+              >
+                0
+              </span>
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div
+          class="card p-5"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-3"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-muted uppercase tracking-wider truncate"
+            >
+              Total Cost
+            </span>
+            <svg
+              class="lucide lucide-dollar-sign w-5 h-5 flex-shrink-0 text-status-success"
+              fill="none"
+              height="24"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              stroke-linecap="round"
+              stroke-linejoin="round"
+              stroke-width="2"
+              viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+              width="24"
+              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+            >
+              <line
+                x1="12"
+                x2="12"
+                y1="2"
+                y2="22"
+              />
+              <path
+                d="M17 5H9.5a3.5 3.5 0 0 0 0 7h5a3.5 3.5 0 0 1 0 7H6"
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex items-end gap-2 min-w-0"
+          >
+            <span
+              class="relative inline-block cursor-default"
+            >
+              <span
+                class="text-2xl font-semibold text-fg-primary truncate"
+              >
+                $0.00
+              </span>
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <div
+        class="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-[1fr_auto_1fr] gap-0 min-w-0 flex-1 min-h-0"
+      >
+        <div
+          class="min-w-0 overflow-y-auto pr-6"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between mb-4"
+          >
+            <h3
+              class="text-sm font-medium text-fg-secondary"
+            >
+              Active Agents
+            </h3>
+            <button
+              class="btn-ghost text-xs"
+            >
+              View Board
+               
+              <svg
+                class="lucide lucide-arrow-right w-3 h-3"
+                fill="none"
+                height="24"
+                stroke="currentColor"
+                stroke-linecap="round"
+                stroke-linejoin="round"
+                stroke-width="2"
+                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                width="24"
+                xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+              >
+                <path
+                  d="M5 12h14"
+                />
+                <path
+                  d="m12 5 7 7-7 7"
+                />
+              </svg>
+            </button>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex flex-col items-center justify-center py-20 text-center"
+          >
+            <div
+              class="w-14 h-14 rounded-2xl bg-surface-4 flex items-center justify-center mb-5"
+            >
+              <svg
+                class="lucide lucide-bot w-6 h-6 text-fg-muted"
+                fill="none"
+                height="24"
+                stroke="currentColor"
+                stroke-linecap="round"
+                stroke-linejoin="round"
+                stroke-width="2"
+                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                width="24"
+                xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+              >
+                <path
+                  d="M12 8V4H8"
+                />
+                <rect
+                  height="12"
+                  rx="2"
+                  width="16"
+                  x="4"
+                  y="8"
+                />
+                <path
+                  d="M2 14h2"
+                />
+                <path
+                  d="M20 14h2"
+                />
+                <path
+                  d="M15 13v2"
+                />
+                <path
+                  d="M9 13v2"
+                />
+              </svg>
+            </div>
+            <h3
+              class="text-base font-medium text-fg-secondary mb-2"
+            >
+              No active agents
+            </h3>
+            <p
+              class="text-sm text-fg-muted max-w-md mb-6"
+            >
+              Agents will appear here when a Claude Code session is running.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div
+          class="hidden lg:block w-px bg-border self-stretch"
+        />
+        <div
+          class="min-w-0 overflow-y-auto pl-6"
+        >
+          <div
+            class="flex items-center justify-between mb-4"
+          >
+            <h3
+              class="text-sm font-medium text-fg-secondary"
+            >
+              Recent Activity
+            </h3>
+            <button
+              class="btn-ghost text-xs"
+            >
+              View All
+               
+              <svg
+                class="lucide lucide-arrow-right w-3 h-3"
+                fill="none"
+                height="24"
+                stroke="currentColor"
+                stroke-linecap="round"
+                stroke-linejoin="round"
+                stroke-width="2"
+                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                width="24"
+                xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+              >
+                <path
+                  d="M5 12h14"
+                />
+                <path
+                  d="m12 5 7 7-7 7"
+                />
+              </svg>
+            </button>
+          </div>
+          <div
+            class="flex flex-col items-center justify-center py-20 text-center"
+          >
+            <div
+              class="w-14 h-14 rounded-2xl bg-surface-4 flex items-center justify-center mb-5"
+            >
+              <svg
+                class="lucide lucide-activity w-6 h-6 text-fg-muted"
+                fill="none"
+                height="24"
+                stroke="currentColor"
+                stroke-linecap="round"
+                stroke-linejoin="round"
+                stroke-width="2"
+                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                width="24"
+                xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+              >
+                <path
+                  d="M22 12h-2.48a2 2 0 0 0-1.93 1.46l-2.35 8.36a.25.25 0 0 1-.48 0L9.24 2.18a.25.25 0 0 0-.48 0l-2.35 8.36A2 2 0 0 1 4.49 12H2"
+                />
+              </svg>
+            </div>
+            <h3
+              class="text-base font-medium text-fg-secondary mb-2"
+            >
+              No activity yet
+            </h3>
+            <p
+              class="text-sm text-fg-muted max-w-md mb-6"
+            >
+              Events from Claude Code sessions will stream here in real-time.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+`;
+
 exports[`screen snapshots > Kanban board 1`] = `
 <div>
   <div
@@ -5117,11 +5782,6 @@ exports[`screen snapshots > Run 1`] = `
         class="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-5"
         data-testid="console-body"
       >
-        <select
-          aria-label="Pane lane selector"
-          class="rounded border border-border bg-surface-1 px-2 py-1 text-xs text-fg-secondary"
-          data-testid="pane-lane-select"
-        />
         <header
           class="flex items-start gap-3"
         >