Amit Saini, Director at BitCloud Automation, specialist in smart home and luxury entertainment experiences, provides a tour of this agile and stylish automated home.
Amit explains that the project was for a new client who wanted to bring together a disparate amalgamation of technology that had accumulated over time through several suppliers. Amit says, “Initially the system was cohesive when the house was newly built. However, as more technology was added over a period of 10 years, the system became a collection of isolated implementations, each controlled by its own dedicated app.”
The whole house worked via HDL lighting, however, a supplier who was engaged when the client’s gym was redesigned implemented a new isolated Rako lighting system. Whilst controllable through an app, the rest of the house wasn’t, resulting in a disconnect between the controls. This was just one of many cases where the technology in the house had diverged from its initial cohesive design.
Amit explains, “The original brief was clear: bring some order to the unwieldy system. They also wanted to make the way in which the house functioned more automated, such that it reacted to its climate and environment and did what was needed to keep the house ambience at the perfect level without intervention.”
The initial scope changed to include the implementation of a centralised 4K HDTV distribution service (encompassing BT TV, Apple TV and a Roku player) and a dedicated wall-mounted control interface to allow instant access to the new control system. The project also included an update to the kids’ den with the introduction of a new 77in OLED TV and soundbar, and the capability of having either of two gaming consoles played on the screen or independently on dedicated monitors.
Also included were increased automated control of the hot water system and towel radiators, control of Velux blinds and windows and the inclusion of a remote control to operate the various media zones with one device. The team also upgraded the client’s working-from-home space, incorporating two 49in widescreen monitors mounted on hydraulic lifting arms and an electric rising platform table.
Another major initiative was for the team to work with the clients’ appointed landscaping team, which included ESSE Landscapes to undertake a wholesale redevelopment of the exterior of the home. This involved a new pool, a hot tub, an ice bath and an outdoor kitchen and lounge housed in a glass-fronted pergola. The garden also includes two further zoned areas of formal lawn space and a woodland. The requirements included an outdoor TV and soundbar with distribution of centralised services from the house AV rack, and extension of the lighting control to encompass all new garden lighting, including the introduction of DMX-controlled strip lighting for key areas.
Also included was automation of pergola roof louvres, lights and heating, and a bespoke landscape sound system. A new wired CCTV system as well as updating the existing Ring security cameras in place was also delivered, along with access control for three new gates for the outside space. The garden also received a wired and Wi-Fi networking upgrade and the pool house was also automated, based around humidity and temperature levels.
TAMING THE TECH
It was quite a challenge in terms of the wide-ranging nature of this smart home project. Amit says, “We tackled the aspect of having a single intuitive interface by using Elan (Nice) as the overarching control system. It may seem weird to introduce yet another control system but, given the nature of the various systems in place, this provided the best way in which we could use a centralised control system that would integrate all the various elements. The Elan system allowed us to pull in all the existing HDL lighting as well as the Rako gym lighting to present the client with a single light control interface. This was then echoed with every other part of the system such as TV/audio control, blinds/windows as well as the climate/heating control aspects to make a cohesive system.”
Taming the tech in this way meant that the team could implement the automated macros to deliver the higher level of automatic functionality the customer wanted. The changes also made it easier for them to dial in and control various aspects such as the music systems when required.
Introducing a centralised 4K HDTV distribution meant the client could utilise less hardware/infrastructure as well as reduce subscription costs, whilst having the flexibility to watch different sources from each of their TV outlets. An HDAnywhere matrix was used to allow all sources to be located in the AV rack out of sight and then controlled via the Elan system. Adding smart remotes to key locations also aided with the drive to remove redundant hardware, as several remote controls could be rationalised into one.
GARDEN OF DELIGHTS
One of the most impactful parts of the smart home project was the garden space. Amit reveals, “We really went to town from an entertainment point of view, as the garden has a three-zoned space arrangement with an entertainment space near the house, followed by a formal lawn which then leads to a woodland area. The main focus was in this first zone. Here the client wanted to create a multi-faceted space that could be used by the family to host parties as well as for day-to-day family life, bringing the indoor amenities outdoors to enjoy in all weathers.”
The main pergola building would be the hub around the pool for the family to congregate in. Here the team introduced a 65in outdoor TV and soundbar capable of working at climate extremes.
Amit adds, “We also added a new smart remote. This added the convenience of voice control and full integration to the house services, which meant even outside in the garden the client could control every aspect of their home. Alongside the TV, background music capability was a must, so here we used Sonos’ outdoor range of speakers to provide an extension to the system.”
The pergola lighting, pergola roof louvres and heating were also integrated into the smart home system. Able to work independently or with the other exterior audio zones, the team added a Klipsch landscape sound system around the pool.
Throughout the garden, new lighting was introduced, carefully selected to ensure it was not overpowering but focused and soft, allowing areas of interest to be highlighted and creating a more ambient night space.
Amit says, “Here we worked to provide a control system that could manage the vast range of fixtures and effectively control the lighting into pre-defined scenes that could be recalled by the client, as well as motion detection to provide a garden that was secure. The lighting design means that the garden could be multi-functional and switch from a relaxing evening glow to a party space with coloured DMX-controlled lighting adding accents and flair throughout.”
Amit continues, “Another nice feature was that we customised the automation interface with theming specific to the house. There was a strong design theme of industrial steels and we used this as the basis for a bespoke interface. We also included images of the various zones so you would have a visual representation of the room and not only just a textual name.”
Picking out a favourite part of this wide-ranging smart home project is tough, but Amit says, “Our favourite part of the project has to be the new outdoor entertainment area. The lounge, outdoor kitchen and pool setting, all controlled via a simple remote, provide a great place to entertain guests or simply be out with the family. For the client it’s simple — they love having control of their home back.”
However, in a little more detail, comments from the client include, “Crystal-clear audio and vibrant visuals elevate the outdoor poolside space to make it a truly unique, awe-inspiring place to be.
“With home automation, I’m able to remotely control all aspects of my home whilst I’m away, giving me control at my fingertips and together with tailored automated routine tasks, it saves me time, money and effort in an already hectic life.”
Finally, “One-touch mood lighting scenes enable me to create a tailored entertainment experience, all at my command, for both the inside and outside spaces in my home.”
Amit was also keen to underline the help, support and collaboration from the other companies involved in this smart home project: Nicholas Electrical, Innovo (driver development) as well as distributors Alltrade and Indigo Distribution.