Case studies

28/8/2003

RSD Connects the Past with the Home Automation Future

If you thought that automation was only at home in a modern, minimalist interior, then leading custom installation specialist, then think again. The latest project by Rococo Systems & Design (RSD), carried out at a penthouse property in London's trendy Islington, is the perfect blend of today's technology with yesterday's period style.

With its classic design and ornate finery, this luxury three bedroom apartment represents the epitome of eighteenth century French chic. Yet behind the décorative woodwork, the hanging tapestries and the antiques, this house is in fact a showcase for smart, multi-system home automation technology and the expertise and installation skills of London-based custom installer, RSD.

"One of our principal objectives has always been, and remains, the protection of this valuable property at all costs, keeping installation disruption to a minimum and making sure all systems and gadgets are as discreet and yet as accessible as possible," explains Pete Edgar, RSD's Managing Director. "We have an excellent, long-standing relationship with the owner of this particular property. He's taken a long-term view of home automation, realising that the pace of development in this business is so enormous that to remain at the top of the heap, requires regular review and investment."

tapestry rising to reveal a 50-inch plasma screen

Let's start with the audio-visual set-up. One of the beautiful hanging tapestries in the living room is programmed to rise on command whereupon it reveals a huge 50-inch Pioneer plasma screen. Although scheduled for imminent replacement with a newer, 61-inch, better-performing model (it is after all over 3 years old already!), the principle remains the same. The TV sits completely out of sight, and out of mind when not in use. But it is the walls either side of the huge living room fireplace which house the biggest home automation secrets. Hidden away here is top-of-the-range source, control and playback equipment.

hidden source, control and playback equipment

On the source side of the equation, RSD has fitted a Sondek CD12 '4D' transcription CD player. Billed as a the reference standard in premium quality, pitch-accurate CD playback, the Sondek sets a high standard in the level of musical detail it brings to compact disc retrieval and reproduction. An Imerge Soundserver 2000 provides hard disk music storage for the apartment. This system allows the owner to store hundreds of hours of music and conveniently browse the collection by album name, artist name or genre. It also provides simultaneous playback of different tracks in up to three different rooms from the music collection, while a built-in TV interface can display the album cover if required. A Linn Pekin high-performance AM/FM tuner was selected by RSD because of its renowned signal sensitivity, sound quality and ease of use.

This source area is one that is also currently under review. The owner is considering investment in the Linn Unidisk 1.1 player which is billed as the world's first 'true convergence' pitch-accurate source component, uniting a comprehensive range of disc formats. RSD maintains that by combining unsurpassed sound and picture quality with simplicity of use, the Unidisk 1.1 player will deliver improved levels of audio and video, regardless of format.

Music storage and retrieval is also earmarked for change. "We're currently in discussions with the apartment owner about upgrading the Soundserver to a Linn Kivor Index system," says Peter Edgar. "We believe it can prove a better, high-end solution with greater user benefits."

Moving to the control side, RSD has installed a Linn 5103T 5.1 surround sound, pre-amp processor. This provides the powerful and flexible control and signal handling for the hi-fi, plasma screen TV and multi-room sound system. Five wall-mounted Knekt keypads installed at convenient points throughout the property link to the distribution system and provide a multi-room sound system that is easy to access and operate.

one of the five wall-mounted keypads for multiroom audio

As far as playback is concerned, again, Linn is RSD's chosen brand. There is a Klimax 500 Solo - a recently developed 500 watt single-speaker amplifier which features Linn's much-vaunted 'silent power' audio power amplification. The additional LK140T unit delivers a well-recognised purity of amplified sound at up to 140 watts per channel. A pair of Linn Keltik floor-standing loudspeakers provide the only easily detectable presence of this high-tech system in the apartment living room, while in other rooms, you barely notice the Linn Sekrit in-ceiling speakers.

The security system is also impressive. The CCTV system which connects to over 16 cameras throughout the building is accessible for viewing through the TV at any time. RSD has wired the entry system camera to automatically cut in to the TV, so the owner can see exactly who is at the door without having to leave the comfort of the sofa. If the TV is not in use, it will ring the apartment's telephone so he can talk to whoever is there, negating the need for a separate videophone system. Another clever touch is that when the telephone rings, the volume on all active AV devices automatically mutes.

Individual room by room, scene-setting dimmable lighting control is taken care of by a Lutron Grafik Eye system. This well-established system provides a range of touch-sensitive scenes to suit different rooms and moods in the apartment and integrates easily with all the other systems through Crestron home automation software. RSD has hidden a fixed Crestron central touch-screen panel behind one of the technology walls in the living room but there is also the flexibility of using remote AMX panel interfaces to access and control any device from any room in this fully-integrated home automation system, at any time.

using remote panels to control any device from any room

As far as the cabling is concerned, it is predominantly CAT6 or the manufacturer's own wiring (e.g. Lutron) that is used throughout the apartment. All wiring is either chased into walls, hidden within the wall cavity or behind the wood panelling. RSD's experience in this type of building works means that it has sensitively handled all the required building and installation works to ensure the highest standards are maintained.

The project is on-going, with the owner intimately involved in the specification/upgrading process. Indeed, working with the customer to stay one step ahead of the game, RSD is also examining the possibility of making the whole installation fully Web-accessible by installing the Lantronix PremiseT Home Control Software version 2.0. This new browser-based software package is a single comprehensive software solution for integrating new and legacy home automation devices and systems in a secure IP-based approach.

Rococo Systems & Design (RSD) has over 25 years experience in the design, supply and installation of high quality, fully integrated home automation systems.

www.rococosystems.com