The Complete Guide to Designing & Building a Smart Home
If you’re looking to upgrade your home into a smart home, you might be unsure where to start. There are many ways to go about taking the first step. This guide will serve as an introduction and a blueprint for how you can design your perfect smart home, as well as how to go about getting started. Developing a vision The first thing you want to consider is what your dream smart home looks like. At this first step, you don’t want to worry too much about practical implementation, but more about what your vision looks like. Once you have a clear vision, you can refine it further and turn it into something that will actually work for your home. Ask yourself what your vision is really about. Is it just about the practical modern solutions that can help make your life simpler? Do you want a minimalistic home where gadgets and machines are multipurpose? Or have you always been a sci-fan who’s aiming for just what feels really cool? It’s important to define your vision and the essence of what it means, as you can use this as a guiding light moving forward. Working out a budget Once you know what you want, it’s time to get realistic. Consider how much you’re really fine with spending on improving your home, both in the short-term and long-term. You might find your short-term budget isn’t very big, but that isn’t necessarily a problem. It’s usually better not to go all in/ anyway, but to take things step by step, one upgrade at a time. Compartmentalize by room When you’re trying to figure out how to practically implement, it helps to start with smaller chunks. One way of doing just that is compartmentalizing by room. First, consider the purpose of each room. Maybe you want one room to be completely dedicated to the virtual experience – like a gaming and home cinema room. Consider how you’ll spend your time there and what vibe you want. If you’re a big casino fan, you might want to create a smart casino-themed room where you can relax in a luxurious setting and compare leading sites in 2025, always playing the latest games at the best online casinos in the world. For the kitchen, you might want it to be as practical as possible, investing in useful kitchen appliances if you spend a lot of time cooking or baking. On the other hand, you might prioritize a modern and futuristic look with a high-end coffee machine if you don’t care much for cooking anyway. Asking yourself what you’ll actually spend your time doing in a certain room is an easy way of deciding what to invest in and how you want to optimize the room. You’ll then know exactly what you’re trying to accomplish. Prioritizing timelessness over trends While certain trends look really fun and cool, something looking futuristic and neat isn’t a reason to bring it into your home. While creating your dream smart home is all about embracing futurism and expressing your personality, you don’t want to confuse trends and impulses with your true personality and timeless design. You want to both give yourself time to reflect and also ask yourself why you want a certain thing. Having seen it on Instagram isn’t a valid reason; seeing practical use or real stylistic value is. You don’t want to wake up one morning and realize you’ve put hundreds of dollars into gadgety appliances just cluttering up the space. DIY what you can – and no more These days, you can find lots of guides for do-it-yourself home improvement projects. While DIY projects can give you a totally customized solution and be tons of fun, you shouldn’t DIY everything. It’s important to be able to recognize what is outside your expertise or skill level and hire an expert when you do. If it’s anything that could be dangerous to get wrong – like running cables or installing outlets – it’s always best to turn to someone who knows what they’re doing. Implement step by step Even if you’ve built a massive plan for how you’re going to transform your home into the perfect smart home, it takes time to get it right. You don’t want to rush this. You’ll also learn along the way, which will help you later on in your journey. If you start everywhere at once, you also run the risk of abandoning projects here and there, and as a result, more or less living at a construction site. It’s better to start with just one thing that you can easily put away if you, for some reason, choose to postpone or delay the final steps. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with planning and dreaming big. But when it comes to implementation, it’s best to start small. Start by tackling lightning in one room, a single corner, or another manageable area that you can preferably get done over a weekend or similarly reasonable time frame. Once you’ve tackled smaller projects and feel more confident, you’ll be able to start even bigger projects without being overwhelmed. But for those relatively new to home improvement, slow but steady wins the race.
Railpen completes state-of-the-art Rotunda office space in Camden’s Jamestown Courtyard development
Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme in the UK, has completed the renovation of the Rotunda, a Grade II-listed former piano factory, into state-of-the-art offices at its Jamestown Courtyard development in London’s Camden neighbourhood. Jamestown Courtyard, the 45,000 sq ft development comprised of seven heritage buildings, now has only two floors to let in the completed Rotunda: the 4,054 sq ft courtyard floor and the 4,742 sq ft third floor. The Rotunda – which provides panoramic, 360-degree views across Regents Park, Camden Lock and Central London – is a four-minute walk from Camden Town tube station and an eight-minute cycle to King’s Cross and St Pancras International stations. As a key anchor to the development, the Rotunda is a character-rich workspace, creating the ideal, open-plan structure environment for the likes of architecture firms, production and studio companies, and other creative industry professionals. Railpen is also committed to enhancing the wider public realm of Jamestown Courtyard, adding greenery and seating to create a space that the local community wants to spend time in, and drive growth for nearby retailers and hospitality operators. The Rotunda is already home to a range of tenants, including Acamar Films on the ground floor, while building services consultants Max Fordham occupy the first and second floors. The completion of the Rotunda is complemented by 12 Oval Road, also part of Railpen’s Jamestown Courtyard development, being fully let, following the lease renewal of music management company, Trinifold. Emily Atkinson, Asset and Transaction Manager at Railpen, said: “Across our entire UK portfolio, we are dedicated to developing standout, state-of-the-art office developments, and the Rotunda at Jamestown Courtyard is absolutely no exception. The blend of history and modernity, as well as its proximity to Central London and other major landmarks, reflects our commitment to supporting the evolving needs of modern occupiers, offering flexibility, character and a strong sense of place within a vibrant community. “This project is a key part of our wider office strategy to create well-designed, sustainable workplaces that support how people want to work today and in the future, creating lasting value for both occupiers and the wider community.” Alasdair Reid, Director at Max Fordham, said: “The Rotunda at Jamestown Courtyard really is something unique. Whether it’s the prime location, spectacular views or characterful interiors, we are proud to call it our home. Railpen positively engaged with our wishes for a much-improved environmental performance, and they have delivered a state-of-the-art office asset within this wonderful historic building. We look forward to welcoming our new neighbours in the near future.” Jamestown Courtyard forms just one of Railpen’s office developments in London and the wider UK, sitting alongside the recently launched 101 Bayham Street, which is also situated close by in Camden, as well as 125 Wood Street in the heart of the city, 4 Coleman Street, which is being delivered in Q2 2026, and the upcoming refurbishment of Red Lion Square in Holborn. Its portfolio also includes 11 assets across Cambridge, including Mill Yard and Botanic Place, both of which are under construction, and Multistory in Birmingham. JLL and Edward Charles & Partners are the leasing agents on Jamestown Courtyard. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Paloma Capital and Graftongate secure pre-let at new £25m Bedford Trade Park
Private equity real estate investor Paloma Capital and its development partner Graftongate have announced the pre-let of the first unit at Bedford Trade Park, a new £25 million trade and mid-box scheme on the Elm Farm Industrial Estate. Aetna UK has signed for Unit 300, a 24,886 sq ft development fronting Caxton Road, which will be occupied by its end-of-line packaging machinery brand, Robopac. The new scheme comprising 10 Grade A industrial and trade units ranging from 3,663–41,711 sq ft will be built to a modern, energy-efficient specification, targeting EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent. Each unit can be taken individually or combined, offering flexibility to meet a wide range of occupier requirements. Detailed planning consent has been secured and construction is scheduled to commence in Q1 2026 with occupation available from Q3 2026. Further pre-let interest is being sought on units of up to 42,000 sq ft. Unit 300 will include a state-of-the-art Tech Lab, inspired by the Aetna Group TechLab in Italy. The facility will allow products to be tested and refined for wrapping quality and load stability, and will be fully connected to the Group’s global network of TechLabs. A spokesperson for Aetna UK said that the new premises will strengthen its long-term commitment to the UK market and enhance services for customers nationwide. They added: “This investment ensures we can deliver faster support, greater technical capability, and an improved customer experience. The facility will expand parts availability and engineering resources, and provide modern spaces for demonstrations, trials and training, reinforcing Aetna UK’s focus on delivering world-class end-of-line packaging solutions.” Tim Harding of Colliers who advised Paloma and Graftongate on the transaction said: “This pre-let represents a fantastic example of investment from an existing Bedfordshire-based occupier in the local economy to support their long-term growth ambitions. The remainder of the forthcoming scheme will provide much needed Grade A stock in the supply starved Bedford market.” Situated on a 5.77-acre plot, Bedford Trade Park benefits from a prominent roadside location adjacent to the A4280 dual carriageway. It has excellent transport links, lying c.six miles from the A1 and 15 miles from Junction 13 of the M1, and offers a direct rail connection to St Pancras International via Bedford Station. The development marks the fourth collaboration between Paloma Capital and Graftongate, following Banbury 200, Exeter Trade Park, and Urban Logistics, Tottenham. For more information about Bedford Trade Park, contact joint letting agents Colliers and Cushman & Wakefield. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Public Invited to Shape Ambitious Mix Manchester Airport Campus
Local residents, businesses and stakeholders are being asked to share their views on the first phase of Mix Manchester, the UK’s pioneering airport-based science, innovation and manufacturing campus. A six-week public consultation opens today, Monday 8 December 2025, marking the latest step towards creating a major new employment hub next to Manchester Airport. The plans are being developed by a joint venture between Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG), Manchester Airports Group (MAG), Manchester City Council (MCC) and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). A final planning application is expected to be submitted to Manchester City Council in early 2026. Phase one proposes 6,750 square metres of mid-tech space across three buildings, offering a total of 11 workspaces alongside a dedicated amenity area. The early stage of the project will also include a multi-storey car park with commercial space at ground level. The application will take the form of a hybrid submission, seeking full planning permission for the initial mid-tech units and the multi-storey car park, while also securing outline consent for later phases. These future phases could deliver more than 100,000 square metres of flexible hybrid commercial space designed for medium and large-scale manufacturing. Emily Fleet, development manager for Mix Manchester, emphasised the importance of community involvement in shaping the project. She said:“As planning for Mix Manchester progresses, it’s vital that residents, local businesses and key stakeholders help inform our vision. This is a hugely significant development for Greater Manchester, backed by a strong joint venture, supported by the Council and aided by central government funding. We urge people to share their perspectives and help bring this project forward.” Details of the proposals and information on how to take part in the consultation can be found at www.mix-manchester.com/consultation Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hortons expands portfolio with acquisition of 132,000 sq ft Leamington Spa campus
Hortons has strengthened its Midlands portfolio with the acquisition of a 12.8-acre, fully-let research, development and manufacturing facility in Leamington Spa. The campus-style development, located off the A425 Southam Road at Radford Semele, comprises 132,569 sq ft across three buildings, including a manufacturing facility, a hi-tech warehouse unit and an office building. The site is let to UK-based engineering consultancy Ricardo plc on a long-term lease. Ricardo, which was recently acquired by global professional services firm WSP, has occupied the campus for more than 25 years and has made significant ongoing investment in the premises, including a comprehensive ESG-focused upgrade programme. The acquisition supports Hortons’ strategy of broadening its geographical footprint and sector exposure, and follows several recent industrial/logistics acquisitions across the Midlands. Steve Benson, chief executive of Hortons, said: “Securing this high quality, long established site represents another important step in diversifying our portfolio, both geographically and by sector. Ricardo is a long-standing and well invested occupier, and we look forward to supporting their continued presence on the estate, as well as exploring opportunities to enhance the facility further.” Hortons was advised by Atlas Real Estate and Gateley. James Madill, real estate partner at Gateley Legal, led the transaction alongside real estate solicitor Amanda Matyjaszczyk. He commented: “It’s really encouraging to see the completion of this significant acquisition — the second in a short period of time — as we continue our long standing relationship with Hortons. “Gateley delivered multi-disciplinary advice on a range of real estate, construction, tax and planning matters, as well as GIS support from Gateley Hamer. This acquisition was completed to an accelerated timetable and was a real team effort from all involved.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Parkhead Hub Officially Opens as Scotland’s Largest Integrated Health and Social Care Facility
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), in partnership with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Glasgow City Council, and Glasgow Life, is proud to announce the official opening of the Parkhead Hub, a landmark £67 million health, social care, and community facility in the heart of Glasgow’s East End. The Hub was formally opened today (8th December 2025) by First Minister John Swinney, who unveiled a commemorative plaque and joined local stakeholders, staff, and community representatives to celebrate the occasion. The event also honoured the late John Ferguson, a much-respected community campaigner, by naming the main conference room in his memory. Parkhead Hub brings together a wide range of services previously spread across nine different sites, creating a single, modern building that acts as a central point of care, support, and community activity. The facility co-locates GP practices, community pharmacy, dental services, children’s services, adult and older people’s social care, mental health teams, addictions support, homelessness and justice services, sexual health, and health-improvement teams. Community amenities include a relocated library, café, flexible meeting rooms, training spaces, and areas for third-sector groups. Since opening to the public in January 2025, Parkhead Hub has been widely recognised for its innovation, design quality, and community impact. It is Scotland’s largest primary care facility and the first net-zero-in-operation building for the NHS Board, setting a new benchmark for sustainability and community benefit. The project delivered over £19.5 million in social value locally, including apprenticeships, support for SMEs, and community projects. The Hub has received multiple national honours, including Public Sector Project of the Year (UK) at the RICS Awards 2025, Project of the Year – New Build (UK) at the Design in Mental Health Awards 2025, Glasgow Institute of Architects Awards for Best Healthcare Project, Best Sustainability Project, and Supreme Award, and Building Better Healthcare Awards: Gold Award for Patient’s Choice and Silver Awards for Best External Environment/Landscaping and Best Healthcare Development (£25–£75m). John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, said: “Our plan to improve our NHS is working – long waits of over 52 weeks have fallen for five consecutive months, the number of operations performed are at their highest since January 2020 and GP numbers continue to rise. “We know there is more to do to ensure people get the help they need when they need it. That’s we are focused on shifting how care is delivered, moving from acute settings in hospitals to community settings like the Parkhead Hub. “The Hub, supported by £67 million Scottish Government funding, is an excellent example of how we are delivering health and social care services in a more convenient way- with general practice, community pharmacy, mental health services and homelessness support in one place. “This kind of whole family support – bringing together all the services people need under one roof – will be key in ensuring that people get the care and support they need from the NHS in their local community.” Dr Lesley Thomson KC, Chair of NHSGGC, said: “Parkhead Hub marks a step-change in how we deliver health and social care, bringing services together to better support communities and reflecting our Transforming Together vision of care closer to home. “This achievement is the result of incredible collaboration across public, third-sector and community partners. Scotland’s largest primary care facility and our first net-zero building, Parkhead Hub sets a new benchmark for integrated care.” Councillor Chris Cunningham, Glasgow City Council’s Convener for Health, Care and Caring, and Older People, said: “The new Parkhead Hub is, without doubt, an outstanding facility for the north-east of the city. “It’s our ambition that everyone in Glasgow has the opportunity to lead healthier and more fulfilled lives and with the vast range of facilities and services now under one roof, we can help achieve that. “As Scotland’s largest health and social care centre, the Parkhead Hub is a fine example of co-locating services and partnership working. It’s a one-stop shop for residents to access services from a range of organisations including the city council, Glasgow Life, NHS and the health and social care partnership.” Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life and Convenor for Culture, Sport and International Relations, said: “The opening of the Parkhead Hub has provided the local area with a new and more accessible library, which is proving popular with the whole community. Our Parkhead Library team has been thrilled to welcome so many new and familiar faces into its modern surroundings over the past year. We look forward to welcoming and supporting even more people at Parkhead Library in the years to come.” For more information about the Parkhead Hub and its services, visit: Parkhead Hub | Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals