Bright, modern office reception area with an open-plan layout. In the centre, a wooden slatted feature structure frames a green sign reading “Welcome to EDEN”, with soft seating including armchairs and a round ottoman arranged beneath warm pendant lights. To the right, a dark reception desk sits against a wall of vertical wooden slats displaying framed black-and-white photos. To the left, a workspace with desks and office chairs is visible through large windows. The ceiling features exposed ductwork, pipes and linear lighting, while the floor combines carpet and polished concrete finishes, giving the space a contemporary, industrial feel. Modern open-plan office space with a soft, contemporary design. In the foreground, a large rectangular wooden table is surrounded by upholstered chairs in warm brown tones, with two small ottoman-style stools positioned beside it. Beyond, rows of desks with office chairs are arranged in clusters, divided by low white storage units topped with green plants. Large windows along the back wall allow natural light to fill the space, complemented by a mix of linear ceiling lights and three round pendant lights suspended beneath a circular pink ceiling feature. The ceiling is exposed, showing silver ductwork, pipes and structural elements, giving an industrial feel. On the right side, a decorative partition with repeating circular cut-outs frames the scene and adds texture. The carpeted floor has a subtle patterned finish in neutral tones, reinforcing the calm, modern working environment. Modern office workspace with a calm, contemporary design and a muted green and neutral colour palette. In the foreground, white desks with soft pink privacy screens and black office chairs are arranged in a cluster on a patterned carpet. Along the left side, three open doorways lead into enclosed meeting rooms, each fitted with tables and matching chairs, with glass panels allowing visibility into the spaces. Between the meeting rooms and desks, a low storage unit with a speckled finish and wooden base sits centrally, topped with plants. Large windows on the right bring in natural light and offer views of a neighbouring building. Overhead, the ceiling is exposed, showing ductwork, pipes and suspended linear lighting, reinforcing the industrial aesthetic. The combination of green walls, soft furnishings and planting creates a balanced, modern working environment. Contemporary open-plan office area with a warm, neutral palette and soft pink accents. In the foreground, a round high table with a central planter holding tall greenery sits on a circular pink rug, surrounded by high stools. To the left, additional potted plants are placed near large windows that bring in natural light and offer views of an external building. Beyond the breakout area, rows of desks with black office chairs are arranged in clusters, divided by soft pink desk screens that add a sense of privacy while maintaining an open feel. The ceiling is exposed, featuring silver ductwork, pipes and suspended linear lighting, complemented by a row of globe pendant lights above the central table. The flooring is a patterned carpet in light neutral tones, and the overall space combines soft furnishings, planting and industrial ceiling details to create a modern, relaxed working environment. Open-plan office with rows of white desks and black mesh chairs arranged in clusters, separated by low fabric screens. A white storage unit with several green potted plants sits in the foreground on the left, next to a vertical wooden slat partition. The space features a carpeted floor, exposed ceiling with visible ductwork and linear lighting, and green-accent walls. In the background, there are glass-fronted meeting rooms and a partitioned area, with natural light coming in from large windows on the right. Meeting room with a long rectangular table surrounded by tan upholstered chairs on casters, set on a light grey carpet. A large potted plant stands in the foreground on the right beside a dark green accent wall with framed artwork and a white slatted acoustic panel. The ceiling features exposed services and suspended linear lighting with white baffles. A full-height glass partition on the left looks into an open office area with desks and booths, while a wooden door and low storage unit sit against the far wall. Natural light enters from windows beyond the adjacent workspace. Aerial view of a city district featuring a mid rise office building wrapped in green living walls, with plants covering much of the façade. The building sits at a curved road with cars and buses moving along multiple lanes, while railway tracks run parallel on the right. Surrounding the scene are tall modern towers, glass fronted offices and construction areas. The sky appears hazy, and rooftops show plant equipment and terraces on several buildings.
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Home Case studies ECF

The UK’s first SKA V2 Gold rating at the Eden Building

We designed and built a flexible plug and play suite for ECF at the Eden building in Manchester. Achieving the UK’s first SKA V2 Rating and Net Zero Aligned fit out accreditation, the space combines smart design and low carbon choices to create a bright and versatile workplace that reflects Eden's environmental ambition.

Project partners

  • Atelier Ten
  • Cundall
  • Chroma Consulting
  • ECF
  • Savills
  • Verte
  • Zero Zero One

Key features

  • First ever SKA V2 Gold rating
  • Net Zero Aligned
  • Plug and play suite
  • D&B delivery at speed

Delivered by ECF, a partnership between Muse, Homes England and Legal & General, Eden is one of the UK's most sustainable developments. Working closely with Muse, nationwide placemaker and our sister company, we built a fully fitted ‘plug and play’ space that sits comfortably within the Eden building, providing a space that’s ready to occupy from day one that remained adaptable for future tenants.

Design that works from day one

We created a 5,100 sq ft suite that offers a mix of work and social settings with a warm, natural aesthetic inspired by Eden’s external façade, Europe’s largest living wall, made up of 350,000 plants. The design makes careful use of natural light, with desks positioned in areas with the most daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Tactile finishes and soft tones mirror the building’s green identity without overwhelming the space.

The suite was fully fitted and set up for immediate use, with 50 fixed workstations installed alongside a boardroom, meeting rooms, kitchen and dining space. Well placed booths and touchdown areas create a range of settings that enable collaboration and concentration from the moment tenants arrive.

Green inside and out

Our approach to sustainability ensures the interior reflects Eden’s exterior. Each material and finish was selected to cut embodied carbon while still meeting practical and aesthetic goals. Furniture systems are demountable and partitions kept to a minimum, allowing the suite to shift as tenants’ needs change. This approach, led by our sustainability team, helped the project become the first in the UK to achieve a SKA V2 Gold rating and Net Zero Aligned fit out.

Ready to welcome tenants

The final space is immediately welcoming, efficient and adaptable, offering incoming tenants a seamless route into a high performance workplace. Its considered layout and low carbon choices ensure the space can evolve over time and meet the needs of future occupiers.

  • New Bailey, Manchester
  • 5,100 sq ft
  • 6 weeks
  • First ever SKA V2 Gold rating

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