Case studies

Lutron HomeWorks in a Room with a 'Vue' (2/8/2006)

Located in St John's Wood and with outstanding views overlooking the Capital, the Vue complex at Boydell Court, definitely lives up to its name.

Comprising of six luxury penthouses, the Vue, constructed by Major Stake, on top of an existing block of apartments at Boydell Court, takes minimalist high-tech chic to new levels. With interior design by Found Associates, and Systems Integration across the whole project by LINK Media Systems, attention to detail and finishing underpin every technology and furnishing fitted into the penthouses.

LINK Media's systems design team worked closely with the interior and lighting designers on this project to ensure that the penthouses provide the latest in seamlessly-integrated, fully-automated entertainment, lighting, control and security.

Light Fantastic

With private conservatories and roof terraces that offer 360-degree views of the city, the minimalist interiors have been developed to contrast the penthouses' external environment. Light plays a vital part in the interior scheme of the build, as it has been used with dramatic effect throughout. Not only has VBK lighting consultants, used artificial light to define interior areas and moods, but the company has integrated most of the artificial lighting within the structural build of the apartments so that very little is evident.

Lighting integrated in stairwell

Max von Barnholt, project director at VBK comments "The design team (Found Design, JH Projects and Botes) and client must be commended on their commitment to putting in the extra effort to ensure that all these systems are as seamless as possible. If energy-efficient sources are to be applied within residential sites, so much more consideration has to be given at the concept stage of the project. It has ended up being a very clean and sophisticated interior with a ridiculously low installed load/m2."

From 193 square metres to 237 square metres, all of the penthouses have been designed to maximise light; with large roof-lights over the main living spaces and the use of an interior palette of stainless-steel, granite, white lacquer and plain hardwood flooring, brightness is the key to the scheme's success.

Dining and lounge area with roof-lights

The first residential development in the UK to have not only underfloor heating, but underfloor cooling built into the floors, the Vue Penthouses' sound, lighting, window blinds and heating/cooling have been integrated into Lutron's HomeWorks lighting control system for ultimate control.

System Specification

At the heart of the Lutron Homeworks system is the central control processor. This is programmed using bespoke Windows based software provided by Lutron. The dimming of the lighting circuits is handled by the Lutron dimmer modules, each of which can have four lighting circuits attached. In this installation, eight modules were used per penthouse, and connected to the processor via module interfaces. The scene selectors were also connected to the processor with infinite scenes being possible.

The use of the Lutron Sivoia QED silent versatile electronic drive for controlling the roller blinds and curtains, allows for complete control of natural light throughout the penthouses. Designed to be flexible, Sivoia QED does not require group controllers, relays or line-voltage wiring between electronic drive units, and ensures that the natural light is controlled with ultimate precision.

Kitchen with dimmable energy-efficient lamps in flush-to-wall surfaces

VBK Lighting Consultant's belief that "lighting should be anonymous, sacrificing its identity to benefit the subject being represented", is nowhere more true than in the Vue penthouses. According to Angela von Barnholt, VBK lighting consultants, "The project brief for the Vue installation laid in clear terms that it was to appear contemporary with consideration of tightening restrictions relating to energy efficiency. We therefore used discharge lamp sources where possible, and in order to present them in an acceptable way, worked very closely with the design team to ensure that they could be accommodated within the design of the building. In circulation areas and the kitchens, which are lit solely with energy-efficient lamps, the linear systems were integrated so that all lighting is flush to wall surfaces. All lamps are also dimmable so a central control system was also specified. There are however low-voltage sources in the bedrooms and bathrooms where greater control of mood is needed."

Bathroom with natural light and low-voltage sources

Total Integration

Sohan Perera, director, Link Media Systems comments: "Every effort has been made to integrate all the electronic functions required in each room, without alienating the user. The open structure of Lutron's HomeWorks software enabled our engineers to integrate a complex range of systems with as few interfaces as possible. Lutron's KP10 keypads have been integrated so that they can control lighting, audio, video and blinds from anywhere in the house. And, in addition we have incorporated temperature sensors into the keypads so that ventilation can be monitored and controlled throughout."

Link Media System's skills were not limited to the public areas of the penthouses - integration has even found its way into all the master bedrooms and bathrooms. Fitted with Aqua-Vision TVs that are integrated into the centralised control system, a romantic bath can be switched to a 'multi-media' one at the touch of a button.

Seamless integration is the catchphrase in the penthouses and the attention to detail and the flexibility of Lutron's HomeWorks system has ensured that these rooms offer more than just a nice Vue!

www.lutron.com/europe
www.linkmediasystems.com
www.vbklighting.co.uk