| |
| |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
A view of the front of the house from the water. |
|
| |
SMART HOUSE LIVING |
|
| |
Sydney developer Sid Elkhouri doesn’t have to go far to escape the maelstrom that his line of work creates.His serene home in Sydney’s south offers the perfect antidote at the end of a hectic day. Perched above the
water’s edge,and hidden at the end of a long battleaxe driveway, you can’t help but feel you’re not in Sydney at all,but just arrived at your own private luxury resort.
The four level north-facing waterfront home,complete with boathouse, guest accommodation and jetty, lures you with its unending views and five star resort-style pool.Whilst Sid himself designed and built the house for himself and his two sons, it was a fortuitous collaboration between Abbey Commercial Interiors and the owner that created this stunning contemporary home,which features the latest in smart house technology.
Abbey Custom Interior Design is a small family business focused on the design and integration of high quality nterior finishes from floors to joinery and lighting, incorporating the latest modern Smart House technologies.Specialising in commercial interiors,and
|
|
with over 20 years of experience in the
business,Abbey has three divisions working together to provide an integrated service:interior design,construction and project management,and lastly Smart House design and installation.Ashely Parkhill,Managing Director of Abbey, says that most works are manufactured and built on-site, giving the client the flexibility to develop - and if needs be,to change the design intent as the job progresses.
Alastair Parkhill,Ashley’s brother and partner in the company, heads up Abbey’s “Hollywood at Home”arm,designing,constructing and installing home theatre, lighting,audio-visual,security and home automation systems.
Whilst Sid Elkhouri initially engaged Abbey to apply his sketch designs to the interior of the home’s concrete shell,the brief was soon expanded to include a Smart House system.The idea was for security, audio-visual,phone and data, |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
2. The boatshed with its own jetty provides self-contained guest accomodation.
3. Security and outdoor lighting are controlled using Dynalite’s intelligent home automation products interfaced with Command Systems DaVinci Series.
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| 4. |
Outdoor speakers on the front lawn provide a high quality outdoor sound system. |
| 5. |
The indoor swimming pool including heating,pumps,waterfalls and audiovisuals are controlled and maintained using home automation. |
| 6. |
The DaVinci Touch screen in the kitchen by Command Systems. |
| 7. |
A view of the pool at night with fibre optic ceiling. |
| 8. |
The reef aquarium and plasma tv recessed into custom joinery disappears at the touch of a button using Dynalite and Commbox home automation products. |
| 9. |
The Dynalite control board built into a dedicated communications room in the house. |
| 10. |
Hardware for the home theatre room and all audio-visual requirements for the house is housed in the communications room. |
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
| |
DAVINCI SERIES
Convergence is the very nature of control systems.In the 21st century, there are more new technologies and opportunities emerging,than at any other time in our history. The new DaVinci series of HTIs (Human Technology Interfaces) bring possibilities never before available in control systems.Stylish,innovative and intelligent,the DaVinci series of HTIs provide the perfect solution to any control application.
The DaVinci touch screen is a complete control system,otherwise known as a management system which becomes the central hub of the home.The DaVinci integrates and simplifies all the other technologies in the home,such as lighting,air conditioning,irrigation, Audio Video Distribution and so on.
The DaVinci is able to connect directly to third party systems such as lighting systems providing instant two way communications all from its built in processor.
Rather than having an array of remotes and wall panels,the DaVinci gives complete control from one central location.
This brilliant yet simple to use technology is part of the CommBox range of Control System products.It is an Australian owned and manufactured product, priced very competitively and the most simple to use,program and install control system available,providing highly graphical "drag and drop" style interfaces for integrators. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
blinds,watering,lighting,indoor swimming pool and home theatre room to be all integrated and fully distributed throughout the property in the form of independent
zones,controlled centrally via a CommBox DaVinci touch screen.
Design commenced on several fronts with Abbey’s CEDIA certified designer Alastair Parkhill and Dynalite Solution Providers developing a platform of integrated
control hardware systems to act as a backbone.Regal Lighting Solutions,Silent Gliss and Digital Connections Security Systems all added their expertise.A range of
Opus,Marantz and Jamo hardware was selected for the audio-visual works.
On entering the Elkhouri home,the first choice is whether to take the stairs down to the main living space,or the glass lift through the building’s centre to the
swimming pool some four levels below. Whilst the uninterrupted water and bush views take |
|
precedence,it’s the magnificent reef aquarium in the middle of the living area that captures attention.Abbey’s interior design consultant Margot Barber liased with Paul Talbot from Majestic Aquariums to create a 360 degree natural reef aquarium with live coral and tropical fish.The chillers and water control tanks have been piped into the floor underneath the stair to minimise tank size and aid servicing.
Even more surprising is the 50”Plasma screen which, at the touch of a button, rises seamlessly from joinery recessed into the front of the aquarium.The aquarium
and living room lights dim and blinds close to create a preset ambient lighting level at any time of the da y. The Opus system switches from the three pairs of stereo
ceiling speakers to the fascia speakers in the aquarium joinery to achieve the directional audio performance.
Fitout commenced with Ashley ensuring that provision for structured cabling, |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
DYNALITE
Not so long ago,lighting control systems were found primarily in commercial architectural applications,in museums,hotels,restaurants and bars.As new technology develops and becomes more affordable,lighting control plays an increasingly dominant role in the residential setting.More and more,home owners are turning to integration specialists,such as a Dynalite Solution Provider, to create a setting that is not only aesthetically appealing,but practical as well.
The key to a successful smart home installation is the ability to integrate.Thanks to Dynalite’s range of intelligent home automation products, integration has never been easier. As any integrator knows,no two homes are alike and requirements vary in the extreme.With your Dynalite Solution Provider, each component acts as a building block,enabling the designer or integrator to package product to suit exact needs. As with any custom installation,the involvement of the owner in the planning stage is vital,as only they can offer insights into their environment,and how they image its future. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
11. The light filled main floor of the home. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
distribution and access were provided.A room within the property was designated as the central Hub.Command Systems were engaged to design the home’s operating system.A DaVinci touch screen built into the kitchen joinery is complimented by fixed satellite controls and hand held remote control Joey’s”.
Commbox interfaces with Dynalite controllers which handle all lighting and automated hardware.Security, phone and data throughout the home,linked back to the Dynalite and Commbox system,is based on the DAS range of hardware.The CCTV, using Opus AV, can be viewed on any TV in the home or on any computer in the world via LAN.
The dedicated Home Theatre Room was delivered with a 120”projection system using the latest Marantz |
|
VLP3 projector.
A decorative bulkhead to the perimeter holds all of the speakers and lights,and a raised floor to the rear created a natural seating structure and a cinematic feel.
The pool and gymnasium were great tests for the operating system.With heating and pool pumps,waterfalls and audiovisuals, the Commbox was again required to provide a single interface.Optic fibre ceiling lighting and LED pool lighting creates a stunning visual effect in the evenings.The landscaping was an achievement in itself,with the lighting,water features and irrigation running on the Dynalite control timer.
The finished product is a seamless merge of cool contemporary dsign and the latest in smart home automation. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| 12. |
A glass lift on the entrance level descends through the centre of the building. |
| 13. |
The kitchen and family room showing the DaVinci touch screen recessed into the blade wall of the kitchen. |
| 14. |
Watering and outdoor lighting are both controlled using Dynalite’s intelligent home automation products interfaced with Command Systems Systems DaVinci Series. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
