BARRATT HOMES
CASE STUDY
KNX KIT LIST:
Concierge/Lobby Area:
• Gira Power Supply and IP
router
• Theben Universal dimmer
• Gira 1-10V dimming actuator
• Gira DALI gateway
• Intesis Gateway KNX/Mitsubishi
Show Apartment:
buyer, allowing them to personalise
the level of technology and
integration to suit their lifestyle and
interior design preferences. They
can easily choose to add different
control elements and change
functionality within their apartment,
adjust finishes and designs of the
push-button switches and, once
broadband connected, add remote
control and operation of the various
technologies within the apartment.
Inside track
Once inside the building, residents
are immersed in the sense of refined
luxury which typifies Great Minster
House. Using a touch screen, the
concierge can automatically control
light levels and temperature over
KNX, and also adjust volume and
select tracks to breathe background
music through invisible ceiling
speakers into the opulent lobby
space. Here, KNX controlled high
capacity Theben universal dimmers,
providing crucial control over the
LED lighting to ensure maximum
efficiency is achieved, whilst also
creating a stunning visual effect.
When entering the show
apartment, owners can activate a
‘welcome home’ function, triggering
an initial lighting scene in each main
living area, alongside the automatic
playback of music. This function
is mirrored by the ‘leaving’ action,
implemented by a push-button
keypad sensor next to the front door.
Design Innovation selected
KNX technology from five
different manufacturers.
Design Innovation has given the
occupants in the show apartment
access to three zones of audio.
• Gira Power Supply and
IP router
• Gira Universal dimming actuators
• Gira switch actuator
• Gira heating actuator
• Gira push-button sensor 3 with
integral thermostat
• ABB 1-10V dimming actuator
• Theben universal dimming
actuator with boost module
• Theben Sphinx motion sensors
• Intesis Gateway KNX/Mitsubishi
• Loxone miniserver
All the ABB and Theben controlled
lighting in the apartment switches
off progressively from back to
front, allowing any guests within
the property to leave safely. These
lighting scenes can be personalised
to suit the individual’s lifestyle and
taste. At night, cove lighting in
the bathroom and toilet areas is
automatically activated by discreetly
located Theben Sphinx motion
sensors for complete ease of use.
Homeowners also have the
ability to set up their own domestic
hot water (DHW), towel rail and
heating and cooling schedule over
an Android tablet that connects
to the apartment’s KNX enabled
server. Using the keypads, they can
boost the short term operation of
these systems as well as adjust the
mechanical ventilation in different
rooms in the apartment. Design
Innovation has ensured that the
heating and cooling system will
not operate in conflict to optimise
comfort and energy efficiency still
further. All control functions within
the show home are also accessible
via a smartphone or tablet when
inside the apartment.
With full integration to the AV
system, Design Innovation has
given the occupants in the show
apartment access to three zones
of audio, via installed invisible
speakers in dining room, living room
and bedroom. The system provides
music streaming over airplay and
Bluetooth and the facility to connect
music via a line-in to the system.
‘The KNX open standard
allowed us to bring together the
right equipment from a choice of
different KNX manufacturers to
provide the best solution for this
project,’ comments Nick Gale,
managing director at Design
Innovation. ‘The show apartment
uses multiple manufacturers all
working seamlessly together,
and offers the flexibility of easy
AV integration and end user
customisation. Great Minster
House is a great demonstration
of the capabilities of KNX and its
huge potential as an effective and
versatile solution within multidwelling unit developments.’
KNX is a simple system for
intelligent electrical installation
networking. A KNX bus cable
combines devices and systems
and new functions can be easily
added in the future as the needs
of occupants change and extra
functionality is required. KNX
products are used to build
intelligent integrated building
control solutions for residential
and commercial applications. As
a result, owners, residents, or
managers of these properties have
control over the everyday working
or living environment. This can
cover all building services such as
heating, ventilation, air conditioning,
lighting, security and metering as
well as the operation of blinds,
electrical appliances, windows,
facades, AV/sound systems and
many other functions.
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