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If you’re a building services consultant or contractor looking to specify audio-visual and related smart electronic systems in the home for the first time, and wondering how to go about it, then the trade body CEDIA is the best place to start.
CEDIA is the trade association representing designers, installers and integrators of electronic systems for the home – a niche sub-set of building services contractors, sometimes referred to as custom installers, or even more commonly on site as ‘the AV guys’.
CEDIA members tend to be involved in up-market residential projects which require sophisticated audio and visual system installation, but increasingly demand integration with other M&E services, lighting, HVAC and security. Typically, these jobs will be large one off houses or luxury home developments where homeowners demand entertainment systems around the home, the lighting design requires a layered lighting scheme in the rooms and/or the project’s architect or interior designer has stipulated minimal visibility of technology, faceplates or switches.
Engaging the services of a CEDIA member will bring confidence to any specifier. Like CIBSE members, CEDIA members are required to reach certain standards within their profession. Having attained certified status, members must then maintain this level by attending on-going professional education courses during the course of each year. They are experienced professionals who are trained to help you realise a clients’ requirements rather than having to make those aspirations fit the abilities of a supplier with an allegiance to one manufacturer. Bringing a CEDIA member into a project at an early stage will help you deliver a truly integrated design with less risk of compromise.
Putting it into practice
Charters is a former stately home transformed into luxury apartments by developer Sabre Developments, which gained leading systems integrator and CEDIA member, Smartcomm top prize in the Best Multi-Dwelling Installation category at the 2009 CEDIA Awards.
This development, near Ascot, is a rare Art Deco architectural gem set amidst some twenty acres of landscaped gardens. This 1930s country house and estate has been exquisitely restored and transformed into 34 immaculate two and three bedroom apartments by Sabre Developments. Their approach to the refurbishment of Charters has been to harness the best of its elegant Art Deco design, superb location and country environment, and create a ‘once in a lifetime’ lifestyle that enhances the quality of life for each resident while simultaneously providing its staff with a wonderful working environment.
The expansive proportions of Charters, its stunning exterior, and mature parkland setting, make it hugely desirable to anyone searching for a home that is private and secure but that also offers unique access to the best in sport, leisure and cultural facilities anywhere in the country. The development is a stone’s throw away from some superb golf courses as well as being a short drive away from Ascot and Royal Windsor racecourses.
The development features fine private onsite facilities including a spa, luxurious sports, and health facilities, tennis courts, a running track, a 50ft heated swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym and a billiards room. All this – and it is also home to a team of personal trainers, beauty therapists and masseuses too.
Superior security
Charters benefits from a superior level of onsite security, including a discreet 24/7 security and site management service that ensures security for residents, without disturbing the inherent sense of intimacy. Charters’ high-tech security installation includes an audio-visual entry system for residents to manage the arrival of their guests from their apartment via personal video phone units. The concierge is connected automatically to this audio-visual system so guests and unexpected visitors are never left unattended. In addition, residents have their own portable security cards to go in and out of the site. CCTV surveillance and a car number plate recognition system are also in place enhancing the site security.
If you own an apartment at Charters, you can also benefit from a groundbreaking electronic concierge service that features Crestron technology. Installed by Smartcomm, the VertilincLive system performs the tasks that a butler might - but in a fully automated way. Designed specifically for this type of luxury home, it integrates a resident’s administration, amenity and maintenance services through a stylish Crestron touchpanel.
This is the first installation of the system in the UK and Steve Worrell, Managing Director of Smartcomm believes it is the ideal way to harness the benefits of home automation for a multi-dwelling application: “Home automation is not about flat screen TVs and automatically opening garage doors – it can be much more than that. If you look beyond the media hype what you’re really buying into is lifestyle convenience – and at Charters that can be had in spades. The residents have a bewildering array of features at their fingertips and when you combine this with the superb concierge facilities on-site they have the world at their fingertips, almost literally.”
Lifestyle choices
Smartcomm has designed the system to allow residents access to a huge range of lifestyle features at the touch-of-a-button. For example, residents can reserve a table at a local restaurant, order a takeaway, request a car from the Valet or organise maintenance services to be carried out – talk about luxury living! In addition to this, residents can also use this technology to automatically reserve tennis courts, racquetball courts, spa sessions and book golf tee times, which can all be done remotely from their Crestron touchpanel.
A CAT 5e wiring infrastructure installed by Smartcomm supports each apartment’s telecoms, data and internet applications to ensure communication is up-to-date and futureproof. The home entertainment is well thought out and comprehensive: the drawing rooms are fitted with a home cinema system which feature a mirror plasma screen and surround sound speaker system all controlled via a wireless Crestron TPMC-8x touch panel. There is a choice of LCD or plasma screens in the kitchen, master and second bedrooms, while waterproof aqua TV screens feature in the master en-suite bathrooms. Alongside this, HD Ready audio and video distribution systems allow residents to view, listen and control different sources such as Sky, DVD, music and radio in different rooms. A lighting control scheme offers the ability to set the ambience and mood for all times of the day and night.
Crestron touch panels are located in all the main rooms. Whether wireless or wall-mounted, these cutting-edge devices allow residents to control the lighting, curtains, heating and air conditioning, television, DVD, music, intercom and view of site wide security cameras at the touch-of-a-button – all from anywhere within the apartment. Smartcomm has also linked the home automation system directly to the 24 hour Concierge services for total piece of mind.
Charters is a project which ably demonstrates the integration skills, added-value and wow factor that CEDIA members can bring to major apartment developments or other large scale residential projects.
