A customisable building arrangement

Abstract

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a building arrangement comprising: a column within a surrounding living space, the column providing a hub configured such that external services may be routed through the column, the external services comprising one or more of water, electricity, gas, sewage and data connection; the building arrangement further comprising: one or more moveable modules, attachable to the hub, wherein the one or more attached modules may be moved in contact with the hub to change their arrangement in the living space. The invention provides an easily configurable smart home arrangement which allows for unit to be replaced and updated when required without the significant cost and time associated with upgrading a conventional home.

1 . A building arrangement comprising:
 a column within a surrounding living space; the column providing a hub comprising a conduit configured such that external services may be routed through the column, the external services comprising one or more of water, electricity, gas, sewage and data connection; and   one or more moveable modules, attachable to the hub, wherein the one or more attachable modules may be moved while attached to the hub to change their arrangement in the living space; wherein   one or more of the moveable modules are configured to connect with one or more of the external services via their attachment to the hub and are moveable while maintaining a connection to the external services via their attachment.   
     
     
         2 . The building arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the column is circular in cross-section and the attached modules move via rotation around the column. 
     
     
         3 . The building arrangement of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a central rotating joint inside the column; 
 a rotating arm for each moveable module, wherein each rotating arm is connected to the rotating joint at the centre of the column and extends to the external side of the column to connect to the moveable module, such that rotation of the arm about the central rotating joint provides the rotation of the module around the hub. 
 
     
     
         4 . The building arrangement of  claim 3  comprising two or more movable modules, each connected to the rotating joint via a corresponding rotating arm, wherein the connections of each rotating arm with the rotating joint are displaced in the vertical direction, along the axis of rotation, such that each may rotate independently. 
     
     
         5 . The building arrangement of  claim 25  wherein one or more of the service lines comprises:
 a fixed portion configured to connect to the mains supply at one end, the second end extending upwards to meet the underside of the rotating joint; 
 one or more rotating arm portions which connect to the corresponding outlet of the moveable module at one end and extend along the rotating arm to meet the rotating joint at the other end; and 
 one or more rotating connection portions which connect the fixed portion to a rotating portion, wherein the rotating connection portion is configured to allow the portions to rotate relative to one another whilst maintaining a sealed connection to provide the passage of the service. 
 
     
     
         6 . The building arrangement of  claim 25  wherein one or more of the service lines comprises:
 a flexible tube extending from a connection to the main supply of the service, along the rotating arm to the corresponding outlet in the moveable module, wherein the length and flexibility of the tube is such that a connection between the outlet and mains supply is maintained as the arm rotates. 
 
     
     
         7 . The building arrangement of  claim 3  wherein the hub column comprises:
 one or more partial circumferential slots in the hub column, wherein each rotating arm extends through a corresponding circumferential slot to connect to the corresponding moveable module; and 
 the length of the circumferential slot limits the angle through which the corresponding arm can rotate. 
 
     
     
         8 . The building arrangement of  claim 3  further comprising:
 one or more linear actuators, each comprising an extendable arm, the arm connected to an internal wall of the column at one end and to a rotating arm at the opposite end; such that rotation of the modules may be provided by activating the linear actuator. 
 
     
     
         9 . The building arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein each moveable module is supported by an array of omnidirectional bearings positioned between the module and the floor. 
     
     
         10 . The building arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the moveable modules comprise one or more of:
 an electrical outlet configured to connect to an electrical supply routed via the hub; 
 a water outlet configured to connect to a water supply routed via the hub; 
 a sewage inlet configured to connect to a sewage outlet routed via the hub; 
 a gas outlet configured to connect to a gas supply routed via the hub; and 
 a data point configured to connect to a data connection routed via the hub. 
 
     
     
         11 . The building arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the moveable modules include one or more of:
 a kitchen module comprising a sink connected to the water supply of the hub and cooking equipment connected to the electricity or gas supply of the hub; 
 a bathroom module comprising washing facilities connected to the water supply of the hub; 
 an office module comprising a desk and electrical equipment connected to the electric supply of the hub; and 
 a bedroom module comprising a bed. 
 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The building arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising a foundation unit, the foundation unit comprising a support base with a predetermined configuration of connection points to which the main supply of external services may be connected, the connection points connecting to the service lines. 
     
     
         16 . The building arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the hub column comprises:
 two integrally formed end cap rings; 
 a circular array of columns connecting the end cap rings; and 
 an interconnecting array of tubing lengths and nodes forming a mesh, providing the cylindrical column wall structure. 
 
     
     
         17 . The building arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first and second radial array of beams extending from the column to the extremity of the living space, the first at the base of the column and the second at the top; and 
 a series of pillars connecting corresponding upper and lower beams at the edge of the living space. 
 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The building arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the hub further comprises:
 a control unit configured to manage the supply of the external services. 
 
     
     
         20 . The building arrangement of  claim 18  wherein the hub further comprises:
 a metering device in connection with each incoming service and the control unit, the metering device configured to measure the use of each service and provide data corresponding to the usage to the control unit. 
 
     
     
         21 . The building arrangement of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a device controller configured to control one or more of:
 movement of the moveable modules; 
 lighting units; 
 audio visual equipment; 
 temperature settings; and 
 security devices; 
 
 wherein the device controller is connected to the control unit. 
 
     
     
         22 . The building arrangement of any of  claim 19  further comprising: one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more of:
 temperature, humidity, motion, fire, security, air constituents; 
 wherein the data output by the sensors is sent to the control unit and the control unit is configured to use the device controller to control one or more devices in response to the received data. 
 
     
     
         23 . The building arrangement of any of  claim 19  wherein the control unit comprises a user interface, allowing the control unit to be configured by a user; wherein the user interface is one of: a smart device, a mobile app, an online platform, a desktop/laptop, a fixed touchscreen. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The building arrangement of  claim 3  wherein the moveable modules are configured to connect with one or more of the external services via a service line for carrying each external service, the service line connected to a main supply at a first inlet end within the column and running along the rotating arm to a connection with a corresponding service outlet of the moveable module at the second, outlet end.