Media Room Surrey Wins Best Media Room Under £50K for IndigoZest at the Smart Building Awards. Read the full case study right here. If you want to get involved in the Smart Building Awards 2025, keep your eye on the official website and our social media feeds for all the important info.
We are delighted to present this case study, the first in a series celebrating the winners and some of the finalists in the Smart Building Awards (SBA) 2024. As the SBAs grow in stature and popularity, based at their new home, the Inspire Suite at the Farnborough Exhibition Centre, and taking place on the first night of EI Live!, organisers are keen to reward the winners and entrants by showcasing their work. Look out for more in this series!
The Winning Project
As part of a larger whole-home project, the client’s brief for this Media Room included several key requirements, as explained by the IndigoZest team. The media room features a 5.2.4 Dolby Atmos audio setup with an 85in 8K HDR Full Array LED TV, creating a truly immersive entertainment space for the client and their family.
Nicolai Landschultz, Managing Director at IndigoZest, explains, “The primary goal was to recreate the immersive movie experience observed in our showroom while seamlessly integrating the technology into the living room. Central to the client’s vision was the preference for a TV recessed into the joinery at the front of the room, as opposed to a projector and screen setup, with the room also functioning as the primary living space.”
“Achieving exceptional audio quality was crucial to enhancing the overall viewing experience. We aimed for a 99dB output for the audio system, considering the room size, usage, and family viewing dynamics. This ensured that the system could deliver immersive soundscapes for movies and music while maintaining clarity and fidelity.”
Nicolai continues, “To meet this objective, we selected audio components with 6dB-9dB of headroom above the target output, allowing for flexibility in EQ adjustments and calibration during installation. This approach mitigated potential acoustic anomalies introduced by cabinetry integration, ensuring that the audio system compensated for any adverse effects without compromising performance. The chosen components delivered the desired output with 100W of power, balancing performance and practicality without relying on excessive power.”
Aesthetics were a crucial factor in the project as well as performance. Whilst the LCR could fit neatly into the front wall cabinetry, the rear speakers had to work with the space available.
Nicolai explains, “The client and interior designers insisted that the rear speakers looked right on the wall visually – which we understood – and, as such, installed the rear speakers slightly further back than they should ideally have been. On balance, we agreed with this decision and known compromise.”
The subwoofers were concealed at the front, with the cabinetry helping to hide them from view, improving the aesthetics, as per the client’s wishes. On checking the room modes, the predicted bass simulation showed a very good response, one that was easy to EQ for a smooth but extended bass response in-room. This helped to confirm the subwoofer locations.
Superior video quality was equally important in the media room design. Nicolai says, “We selected a high-quality TV capable of producing 4K/8K HDR images for stunning visual clarity, detail, and colour accuracy. The TV size was carefully chosen to provide an immersive cinematic experience while complementing the room’s décor.
“Through discussions with the client, we balanced industry recommendations for optimal viewing experiences with the need to preserve the room’s aesthetic appeal. The selected TV size, slightly smaller than industry recommendations, was agreed upon to maintain the integrity of the room’s interior design concept. This choice ensured an unparalleled visual experience that complemented the immersive audio environment.”
Acoustic Considerations
Designing the media room within a living room setting characterised by wooden cabinetry, wood flooring, and glass doors, of course, required careful consideration of the acoustic implications of these reflective surfaces. Traditional acoustic treatments, such as absorptive panels or diffusers, were not viable due to the client’s preference for maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the living room.
Instead, alternative strategies were employed to address potential acoustic challenges. Soft furnishings played a crucial role in mitigating sound reflections and reverberations.
Nicolai explains, “Collaborating with the interior designer, we incorporated a large rug, plush sofa, cushions, and additional armchairs into the room’s layout. These soft surfaces helped absorb sound waves and minimise the impact of the room’s harder surfaces.
“The audio system was designed with these acoustic considerations in mind, allowing flexibility in addressing any anomalies during calibration and tuning. By incorporating additional headroom into the audio system and providing EQ adjustments, potential acoustic issues could be effectively managed without compromising audio quality or aesthetic appeal.”
Team Work
A key component of the project, recognised by the Smart Building Awards judges, was the company’s close collaboration with suppliers and on-site teams, including the interior designer, which enabled the team to create a seamless approach to the room and overcome the various acoustic challenges presented by the space, often easier to address in traditional cinema rooms or spaces where there is full creative control.
The result is a system where, as part of a whole-home integration project, the owner can transition from everyday living to an entertainment mode effortlessly. The lighting and blinds are synchronised with the audio-visual system, ensuring that all elements work in harmony to create an immersive environment. These features not only enhance the functionality of the room but also contribute to the overall aesthetic, maintaining the elegance and simplicity of the living space while providing advanced technological capabilities.
Overall, the client was thrilled with the result and service received, saying, “IndigoZest have gone above and beyond at any moment in time for us and it’s been a real pleasure dealing with absolutely everyone in the organisation. Everyone has been phenomenally helpful in getting us to where we are today.”
Essential Kit List
1 x Artcoustic Speakers SL MULTI Soundbar (XL)
2 x Artcoustic Speakers 6-3 SL SL version
2 x Artcoustic Speakers DIABLO SL
4x Artcoustic Speakers ARCHITECT SL 2-1
2 x Spitfire Sub3 Subwoofers
Anthem Amplification
Sony 85in TV
Control – Control4
Lighting control – Lutron
