private residence, leicester

Private Residence

Location:

Leicester, United Kingdom

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator:DESIGN INNOVATION

Project summary:

The project involved upgrading the lighting system from halogen bulbs to LED lighting. With an existing KNX installation already in place, only the dimmers needed replacing with new LED-compatible ones.

The homeowner wanted to replace the existing energy-consuming halogen bulbs with LED lighting to reduce energy consumption and lower running costs. The transition to LED lighting is known for its higher energy efficiency and longer lifespan, making it an appealing choice for cost savings. 

By replacing only the dimmers, the goal was to maintain compatibility and functionality with the existing KNX installation while achieving the desired LED lighting benefits. The project was executed efficiently within a couple of days, thanks to the existing KNX infrastructure.

After the installation, thorough testing and configuration were performed to ensure proper functionality and seamless operation of the upgraded KNX system with LED lighting. This step ensured that the lighting controls and dimming functionalities were working optimally. 

The project’s success was attributed to the ease of integration provided by the existing KNX infrastructure and the availability of LED-compatible KNX dimmers.

Photography: Steve Edwards Photography

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

LUXURY FAMILY HOME

Private Residence

Location:

Primrose Hill, London, United Kingdom

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: WAVE CONTROLS

Project summary:

The most important element of this project was to ensure that the home automation system was easy for the family to use and customise as required. With over 150 lighting circuits, 15 zones of heating and cooling throughout the home and motorised curtains and blinds on every window, KNX was the best choice for the control system.

At the top layer of control, the Gira HomeServer provides visualisation of every part of the KNX system. The status of every lighting circuit in the house can be checked from the app, as well the position of the blinds in every room, the temperatures and the current mode of the heating and cooling systems. A sensor in the bathroom tells the occupant if they’ve left the bathroom window open. If so, it can be closed with a button press on the Gira app.

At 670 square meters, this home features 5 bedrooms all with an en-suite, an 8-seat cinema featuring a Dolby Atmos sound system and a 4K projector, as well as an extensive basement with a wine cellar, gym, golf simulator and swimming pool. The ground floor living space also features a TV concealed by moving panels and invisible speakers.

All of the lighting circuits were trimmed to 80% brightness using KNX dimmers, which while barely noticeable to the human eye, amount to considerable energy savings for the owners.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

LONDON PENTHOUSE

Private Residence

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: WAVE CONTROLS

Project summary:

This client wanted to have complete control of their environment through one easy-to-use solution with a modern and intuitive user interface.

When Wave Controls were told of the aesthetic design brief for a modern and minimalist look that included electrical outlets to match the wall-mounted keypads, they didn’t hesitate to specify a Gira KNX solution. The choice of the Gira E22 range of aluminium switch plates and electrical outlets met with instant approval from the client and their design team.

The complexity of the five systems for climate control (underfloor heating, electric matt, trench heaters, gas fireplace and fan-coil units) and the inevitable solar gain from the impressive seven-meter floor-to-ceiling windows, was easily overcome by the use of KNX, which enables all of the devices to communicate with each other and maintain the desired temperature throughout the apartment.

Using KNX allowed Wave Controls to source the best products for each particular function from a wide selection of manufacturers. By choosing to install certified KNX products, the client was guaranteed to have the interoperability they wanted. All of the products used in this project, even though they were from different manufacturers, work together because they communicate in the same programming language, and are unified in a single software programming tool – ETS.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

NO.5 office building

Commercial Office

Location:

Douglas, Isle of Man

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: TATE CONTROLS

Architect & Interior Design: JAMES BROOKMAN DESIGN

Professional Photography: Liam Gilman Photography

Project summary:

For this 22,000 sq. ft commercial office refurbishment project on the Isle of Man, the client wanted to create a hub-like environment with a premium central London feel. The aim was to create a space that was worthy of being a ‘destination’ for employment that would attract not only local talent, but also entice people from mainland UK.

Coming out of the Coronavirus pandemic, where people have become used to working from home, it was important to create an office environment where people wanted to spend their time.

Having grown from a team of 5 to 250 in 10 years, looking after their staff was a priority. Equally important was creating an environment that was operationally efficient, flexible, and futureproof to keep up with the business’s trajectory.

Having had previous experience of KNX in a residential setting, the building owners knew that KNX could give them the level of building control they wanted and support the demands that would be placed on an office building of this calibre.

With varying degrees of occupancy over 4 floors creating the optimum working environment was a priority. This meant having the ability to manage air quality and comfort automatically and reduce energy inefficiencies that are common in large open plan office spaces when occupants are manually in control of heating and cooling.

The Solution

Building Control – As the client was familiar with the capability of the Gira Homeserver, this was going to be instrumental in providing the intricate level of control that 11 office spaces over 7 floors was going to require. Strategically placed iPads on each floor that connect to the Homeserver give occupants a simple user interface to interact with specific control functions, whilst the Homeserver remains the ‘brain’ that has overall control to always ensure smooth and efficient operation.

HVAC – Commercial HVAC control has the biggest impact on energy costs, and comfort levels for the occupants. To ensure maximum comfort for the occupants whilst also using energy efficiently KNX was used to control 20 ventilation control dampers and 48 fan coil units.

Energy Monitoring and Visu – Energy usage and monitoring is handled and integrated into the KNX system by Intesis gateways and Rayleigh energy meters, and this data is then visualised by the Gira Homeserver. Having this level of visibility provides useful feedback on energy consumption but can also be helpful for troubleshooting energy spikes or abnormal activity that can then be investigated for early detection of any issues to keep the office running optimally at all times.

Lighting – DMX lighting (LED) is used throughout. The core of the building houses an atrium style staircase with a showstopping lighting installation spanning 7 floors. DMX was chosen as it offers more flexibility by allowing more luminaires to be connected and controlled using a single connection. It is also energy efficient running on low voltage, which is especially important in a project where lighting is such a prominent a feature.

The lighting control is triggered by Basalte PIRs on each floor, further contributing to the energy efficiency of the building. The atrium lighting feature is also controlled with logic and is triggered to illuminate when presence is detected on any of the office floors.

The use of presence detection is not only functional, but it also contributes to enhancing safety and security outside of typical office hours with the ability to monitor which PIRs are triggered and when.

Where localised control of lighting scenes is needed in meeting rooms or collaboration spaces, inscribed matt black Gira Push Button Sensor 4 keypads fit perfectly with the office aesthetic.

These keypads are a versatile user-friendly switch that allows occupants to easily adjust the lighting in their immediate environment with a choice of 4 scenes, highlighted by engraved labels and status LEDs to indicate the chosen scene. The integrated temperature and humidity sensor inside the keypad provides data feedback to the KNX system, helping to support the efficient running of the HVAC system.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

Adapted home for independent living

Private Residence

Location:

Leicester, United Kingdom

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: DESIGN INNOVATION

Project summary:

This project involved designing and installing smart home automation for a disabled woman. The scope of the project included implementing various smart technologies such as smart lighting, heating and cooling systems, automated doors and windows, multiroom audio, distributed video, access control, alarm systems, CCTV, and all necessary electrical work. 

Being disabled, the homeowner faced several challenges in her daily life that required special attention during the construction of her home. The primary objective was to create a living environment that improves her quality of life by providing greater independence, comfort, and convenience through the integration of smart technologies. These included requirements to help improve:

Accessibility: Ensuring that the house design and layout are fully accessible and accommodating for specific mobility needs, such as wheelchair accessibility, ramps, wide doorways, and appropriate placement of switches and controls. 

Independence and Convenience: Providing the ability to control various aspects of her home independently, such as lighting, temperature, and audio/video systems, designed to enhance her comfort and convenience.  

Safety and Security: Implementing robust security measures, including access control systems, alarms, and CCTV, to ensure safety and peace of mind, considering her potential vulnerability due to her disability. 

Integration and Ease of Use: Ensuring that all the smart technologies installed in the home are seamlessly integrated, user-friendly, and able to control different systems using a centralized interface or accessible control mechanisms. 

Personalised Control: Providing personalised control over her living space, enabling her to adjust lighting, temperature, audio, and video according to her preferences, without relying on assistance from others. 

Long-term Sustainability: Having a sustainable and energy-efficient home design, incorporating smart systems that optimize energy usage, reduce utility costs, and contribute to environmental conservation. 

The Solution

KNX was chosen for integrating the lighting, heating, windows, and door systems as it allows for seamless control and provides flexibility and interoperability, enabling the client to independently manage these functionalities through a centralized interface or in this case the Control4 mobile app. 

Control4 was chosen as the user interface and audio/video control system for the smart home as it offers intuitive control interfaces and enables seamless integration of various audio and video sources. It allows the client to manage and control audio distribution and video playback throughout her home. 

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

essex smart home

Private Residence

Location:

Essex, United Kingdom

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: indigozest

Project summary:

The owners of this redeveloped 4-storey property in a suburb of Essex wanted a reliable home automation system that also had a wow factor for the control of their home’s unique lighting design.

In this project, the overarching control system is Control4, which enabled IndigoZest to deliver a pleasing and easy-to-use whole home automation system, accessible from in-wall and tabletop touchscreens, smartphones and tablet apps, and through elegant remote controls.

The sheer size of this project and integration between the internal and external areas required a robust, secure and reliable network that could support all home elements. The customer also worked from home, so the system was designed and built in such a way that network traffic was segregated so did not slow down their conference calls, as well as ensuring their internet demands didn’t have a negative impact on the performance of the AV system

The lighting design was a key feature of this property and given the size, it made sense to have smart lighting throughout, enabling stunning lighting scenes that truly showed off the beauty of the building, both internally and externally.

Working with designers at The Lighting Design Studio, IndigoZest produced external and internal lighting concepts, that included layers of light, with featured and accent lighting, all controlled from a KNX lighting system. Vitrum glass keypads were chosen for their function and style and they allow for multiple scene control.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

CONTEMPORARY Family Home

Private Residence

Location:

Surrey, United Kingdom

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: indigozest

Project summary:

The owners of this stunning architecturally designed home in Surrey had a very clear vision for a contemporary home that included smart home automation while also blending into the surroundings. The smart home solutions delivered by the integrator, IndigoZest, are both sensitive to the building style and deliver a seamless living experience.

The overarching home automation platform is Control4 with KNX used to give the flexibility required for the integration of each different solution. All of the social spaces feature in-ceiling speakers, TVs, motorised blinds, lighting and heating control.

The lighting is controlled with Theben DM 8-2 T dimmer modules as well as internal and external PIRs which were programmed to provide low-level lighting when activated at night. The front-end lighting control is via a mixture of Zennio TMD 4 keypads with custom icons, and Zennio Z35 touchpanels with programmed icons for lighting scenes and individual light load control.

The blinds and curtains throughout the property are controlled with Theben JM 8 T blind modules, which are operated via the custom icons on the Zennio keypads within the room, or via the Control4 touch screens and mobile app.

The Basement Cinema was designed with the family’s needs in mind and has become a much-used space by the whole family with plenty of children’s movie parties and adult sporting events viewed from the comfort of the 6-seater cinema design or from the bar at the back which created another use for the room.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

kingston upon thames

Private Residence

Location:

Kingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: KNX Controls Ltd

Project summary:

The overwhelming requirement for automating this large residence was to make it easy to use. The homeowner wanted a reliable solution to automate many of the functions in the house, including the basement entertaining area that incorporates a bowling alley.

Lighting design, both inside and out, was a key element of this project requiring scenes to be set up for many different scenarios and spaces, such as evening entertainment scenes lighting or when people were bowling. Motion sensors were used to ensure the lights came on when there were people moving around the house and turned off again when they were not required.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

WHITEFIELDS

Private Residence

Location:

Christchurch, New Zealand

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: WAKEFIELD ELECTRICAL

Project summary:

This older family house was traditionally wired, which can be hard to change. The house is built on piles, with good access from below so providing new cabling was possible to the ground floor rooms. KNX was the obvious choice to bring together all the features in a single simple control.

Based on the Basalte Home concept, the Ellie screen and brass Sentido keypads give a rich style to the front of the living space for lighting, shading, louvre air conditioning and audio control. Multiple scenes have been set up by the owner for lighting and shading. The blinds and curtains close as night draws in, and outside lighting in the loggia and garden provide an atmospheric ambience every day.

The owners replaced a high-wall air conditioning unit with ducted heating supplied through brass floor grills that match the keypads. The heating system creates a comfortable warmth throughout the house that is carefully regulated to keep an even temperature without a drafty feeling. The Basalte home interface makes it easy to efficiently control the temperature at different times of the day.

High-quality audio from the turntable and Tidal streaming service fills the room from the elegant Basalte Aalto floor standing speakers that have a slightly retro-Parisian feel about them.

Automatic lighting in the bathroom and toilet gives an easy hands-free experience. With clever use of an under-cabinet LED strip, the fixtures float on a subtle glow when entered at night.

Humidity and time-dependent fans in the bathrooms and laundry make it super easy to remove damp air and smells automatically.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

photos by: nick grant

Manawatu ehaus

Private Residence

Location:

Manawatu, New Zealand

Intelligent Building Solutions Used:

Key products:

System Integrator: VAAV

Project summary:

This large, award-winning, contemporary home utilises a KNX automation system to make it easy for the owners to control different aspects of the building, such as lighting, heating from one location, while also maximising the building’s energy efficiency through daylight harvesting.

The main living areas, entry and corridors of the home and also all outdoor areas are controlled by the KNX automation system.

The indoor temperature is continually monitored, and the system automatically adjusts the underfloor heating levels to ensure the optimal temperature inside. The scullery and hallway lights are controlled via sensors that determine whether a person is in the area (moving or present) then based on a set lux level will switch certain lights on, and switch them off again when there is no one in the area.

Everything in the automation system can be controlled or modified from the on-wall touchscreen or via a smartphone app whether locally, or via a secure connection, from anywhere in the world. For example, the homeowner can check to see if the house has been turned off, or adjust the underfloor temperature set point.

Key Drivers for using Building Intelligence in this project:

Total 100%

photos by: Andy Kruy