Envision – a Digital Blueprint for a Smart Home of the Future
Project impact
Improved health and wellbeing outcomes through preventative care and independent living support
Reduced carbon footprint through low-carbon housing and adaptive design
Six housing providers exploring adoption in new build and retrofit projects
Envision is a digital blueprint for the smart home of the future, developed through the Moray Rural Centre of Excellence as part of the Moray Growth Deal. The project combines digital health and care technologies, low-carbon design and adaptable housing principles to support preventative care, independent living and more sustainable future-ready homes.
Developed through the Moray Rural Centre of Excellence, Envision is a digital blueprint for the smart home of the future. The project explores how housing can play a more active role in supporting health, wellbeing and sustainability by bringing together low-carbon design, digital health and care technologies, and adaptable housing principles within a single framework.
Designed initially for rural Scotland but applicable across a range of settings, the blueprint supports the development of homes that can generate energy, anticipate care needs and adapt to changing circumstances over time. While presented as a new-build concept, its underlying principles and digital architecture can also be applied to existing housing stock and retrofit programmes.
Structured around three core components — the Guide, the Matrix and the Model — Envision provides organisations with practical tools to support the planning, design and delivery of future-ready housing. By positioning housing as preventative infrastructure, the project offers a framework for addressing the interconnected challenges of health demand, climate change and technological change.
Summary
Envision positions housing as an active contributor to health and wellbeing rather than simply a place to live. By supporting preventative care, independent living and the use of digital technologies within the home, the blueprint demonstrates how housing can help reduce pressure on health and social care services while improving outcomes for residents.
The project also contributes to wider sustainability goals through low-carbon design, energy generation and adaptable housing approaches that can evolve alongside occupants over time. By providing a shared framework across housing, health & care, technology and policy, Envision supports a more joined-up approach to addressing the interconnected challenges of health demand, climate change and demographic change.
Impact & value
The project has produced a comprehensive blueprint framework comprising three core tools. The Guide sets out the evidence base, design principles and supporting narrative; the Matrix provides a phased capability roadmap; and the Model demonstrates an adaptable smart home concept in practice.
Developed through collaboration between the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), Moray Council and BE-ST, the blueprint has already attracted interest from housing providers. Six organisations are currently exploring how Envision could be applied within both new-build developments and retrofit projects.
Progress to date
The next phase of Envision will focus on supporting adoption and piloting activity with housing providers and partners. This includes applying the blueprint within real-world projects, extending its use beyond the initial rural context, and continuing engagement with architects, engineers, digital specialists and policymakers.
Work will also continue to refine and promote the Guide, Matrix and Model, alongside the publication of supporting resources to help organisations implement the blueprint within future housing developments.
Next steps
Partners
