Inspired Dwellings picked up this year’s multi-dwelling prize at the Smart Building Awards for this expansive and elegant project. Read on for the full story.
Harcourt House, originally a palatial residence designed by Baroque architect Thomas Archer in the 18th century, has undergone significant changes over time, including a complete demolition in the Edwardian era. Despite this, Thomas Archer’s Palladian architecture remained central to Cavendish Square for two centuries. It was later transformed into a luxury multi-dwelling unit comprising 25 spacious apartments and penthouses with stunning views. The Grade II listed building was meticulously restored by a talented team including developers Centreland, contractors Ant Yapi, architect Darling Associates, interior designer Carte Blanche Design Monaco, and of course Inspired Dwellings, handling the project’s technical requirements.
In the early design stages, extensive cabling was pre-wired to facilitate future upgrades and AV system retrofits. Each room was equipped with speaker pre-wires and TV socket cables behind the walls, allowing almost all residents to install custom systems after the initial core system fix. The building’s Grade II listed status posed challenges, such as the prohibition of in-ceiling speakers, necessitating the use of plaster-over in-wall invisible speakers. Burst pipes caused flooding and a year-long delay for re-installation and re-commissioning. Additionally, the COVID-19 lockdown period created logistical difficulties in ordering stock and making deliveries, further impeding progress.
Attention to detail
The Harcourt House systems required extensive programming, including connecting individual apartments to communal areas and integrating the onsite medical centre’s video door entry system. Shared access locations necessitated the installation of cameras, with the medical centre needing access to data footage from shared CCTV cameras. Custom fabrication in Turkey was required for access control system faceplates matching the Palladiom lighting keypads. The core network system was programmed to link all apartments via a network while ensuring individual user privacy through VLANs, with only essential information such as door entry and BMS/HVAC control passing into the core space.
The façade lighting, synchronised with astrological time, required precise programming into the Lutron lighting system. Inspired Dwellings coordinated with the lighting designer and programmed the lights to activate from dusk until dawn. The initial core installation in communal areas included lighting, video door entry, CCTV and speakers, followed by core installations in individual apartments. These installations comprised a shared network, Lutron lighting system, and Crestron control system. Residents could then choose additional AV features, such as smart TV systems, VPNs for foreign TV access and automated window treatments.
Harcourt House also saw some units combined for larger spaces, including a notable penthouse combination with a private lift. After the initial installation, Inspired Dwellings continued to work with individual residents on bespoke system combinations, maintaining service contracts for future upgradeability. Many residents required specific VPNs for language-specific TV access, and window treatments were integrated into the lighting systems.
Overall, Harcourt House was a remarkable project, and Inspired Dwellings continues to support the residents and their systems, fostering long-lasting relationships and ensuring seamless integrated living spaces for years to come.
Stay tuned for more Smart Building Awards winners and don’t forget to enter next year!