Case Study

Name of Case Study: NearHome – New Build and Retrofit

Country: Scotland

Partner: Built Environment – Smarter Transformation

Company: ECOSystems Technologies Ltd.

Ecosystems Technologies is an innovative PropTech company dedicated to digital
transformation in the construction industry, applied innovation in timber technology and
the democratisation of sustainable, healthy building solutions.

Link to Website: https://www.ecosystemstech.com/

Overview / Project Summary:

Client Transport Scotland

Contract Design & Manufacture

Date range Sept 2021 onward (ongoing)

Value £375k for initial project - thereafter anticipated significant
opportunity for wider roll out

Location Various, Scotland

Other Stakeholders BE-ST; SFT; South Lanarkshire Council, Scotland wide

Local Authorities

The NearHome project was funded by Transport Scotland under the Work Local
Challenge Programme established to tackle issues that have arisen as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically the project was established to support the creation of local work hubs to
respond to changes in work and travel patterns.

Ecosystems Technologies were appointed as principal designer for the Nearhome
consortium consisting of BE-ST, Transport Scotland, South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish
Futures Trust and a range of specialist consultants.

The Nearhome prototype was demonstrated at COP26.

Multimedia content

Description

The post-COVID-19 era has presented us with the challenge of re-imagining the
workspace and has accelerated a change in the relationship between employer and
employee that will require a more flexible approach to the concept of “place of work”.

In this context, Transport Scotland and the Government are investing in the identification
of solutions for creating localised and accessible workplace hubs.

Their strategic objectives are to:

• Reduce the carbon footprint of commuter transport by creating opportunities for
  ‘NearHome’ working solutions

• Repurpose vacant spaces in retail environments and on High Streets/Town
  Centres

• Meet the Government’s sustainability and circular economy targets.

  
  

  The Innovation

  
  

  The Nearhome prototype culminated in the development of a flexible kit of parts capable
  of being deployed in retrofit or new build scenarios either as volumetric units or
  panelised sec¬tions capable of being lifted through a standard personnel door.

  
  

  Ecosystems was also responsible for the development of a digital configurator tool to
  accompany the build system which we have continued to develop.

  
  

  Key Outputs

  
  

  Ecosystems has completed multiple full scale prototype’s of the NearHome kit of parts
  and the system is currently being deployed as a new build solution for Scottish Power.

  
  

  The wellbeing impact and comfort features of the Nearhome space highlight its quality.
  As well as some of the more typical opportunities deriving from space planning and
  furniture design, the study was supported by a number of specialist designers, whose
  focus has been on coordinating the detail of:

  
  

• Furniture design

• Biophilic features

• Lighting

• Sound and thermal comfort

• DDA and accessibility requirements

  
  

  Challenges

  
  

  The Nearhome prototype was designed to be installed in any existing space or structure.

  The re-purposing and refurbishment of existing spaces presents a
  number of design challenges, which Nearhome seeks to address:

  
  

• Access to natural light

• Limited impact and visibility opportunities

• Physical constraints of existing environment

• Coordination with existing services and utilities