Following the completion of the AV and lighting control installation in their Central London marketing suite, the same developer asked us to look at their next prime residential project, just instructed by a private client.

The first design team meeting was a pleasant surprise –  a familiar team of investment consultants, quantity surveyors, project managers, architects & interior designer from previous projects over the years.

With deadlines to hit, and a build schedule already under pressure, the immediate teamwork enabled us to understand and design the approach to the first fix of the necessary cabling.

The relevant AV, IT and control systems had to be specified and drawn up within a fortnight.

Working closely with the M&E consultants, this was quickly agreed and cable supplied for the electrical contractors to commence cabling the property.

Dependability and simplicity are key requirements in such a high end residential property.

We designed a Lutron Homeworks QS lighting control system , with Lutron enclosures centralised in the basement, and a sensible engraving proposal to make keypads clear from Day One.

Control4 was selected as the back bone for audio and video distribution and automation, as well as the video door entry system, and for integration into the Lutron system.

A structured wired and wireless broadband network and TV distribution for UK and European satellite was set out for the main house.

The mews development to the rear was planned as seperate staff quarters in the future for the ultimate residents.

Running a set of umbilical cables meant the main house and the mews could be integrated into the broadband, TV and intercom system, when the property was ready for sale.

With a number of different systems and colleagues in different trades, it was key to understand how our components were integrated as the final finishes were planned.

The family cinema room was one such challenge, with specific wall finishes planned by the interior designers, and restrictions for integrating the placement of speakers and sub-woofers. The main brief was that the speakers needed to be completely invisible.

The solution: carefully selected Bowers & Wilkins Cinema in wall speakers and subwoofer, with custom enclosures to ensure they performed and fitted exactly into the available voids.

We sourced an acoustically transparent material to cover the wall panels and speaker wall grilles completely, matched exactly to the interior designer’s brief and supplied from the US, just in time!

With a high power Pioneer AVR driving the B&W speakers, a 4k Bluray player for a movie demo for agent viewings and the equipment & controls all in the AV rack in the corridor outside, the room was preserved as a clean uncluttered space, with the bar just next door for refreshments.

The cinema has full integration with the Lutron system, to set the lighting perfectly for movie nights, which impressed family and friends.

The Lutron Palladiom keypads are a genuine bespoke touch, with all the keypads hand finished as a special custom finish (a worldwide one off!) relevant to the décor in different rooms.

Keypads are engraved to make scene selection simple for residents and guest alike.

The centrally located Lutron enclosures and dimming modules control over 150 circuits across the property, including external and spa / gym facilities in the lower floor.

From the front door intercom panel, through to the CCTV over the mews behind, the property is safe and secure and can be linked to the alarm system with control via the Control4 touchscreens on all floors.

Once the property was finished, it was quickly occupied.

In full co-operation with the new client’s own AV company, we supported the transition across, for example directions on how to commission the fully operational Wifi and TV system for the tenants and their staff.

By supplying the relevant system drawings and documentation, this enabled a smooth and happy handover for the clients.

As Control4 offers full remote support for the core controllers and touchscreens, we can ensure the door entry and other control systems can be checked routinely, once broadband was active at the property.

The cabling infrastructure in the property is flexible enough to ensure the new residents feel at home.

They have installed their own office equipment and Wifi, set up their own and staff TV screens, linked the cameras to a new CCTV recorder, adjust the lighting scenes and plan future integration with heating and cooling with their support team.