The Brief The brief for the apartments was to provide an 'intelligent home' solution that would give this development an advantage in a difficult sales environment. The developer has experience marketing at the mid‐top end of the market and has proven that home automation systems which include intelligent lighting with integrated audio and video distributed throughout the living spaces help to sell properties faster.
With Niko, it was possible to meet the demanding brief of the developer within his budget and provide an easy upgrade path for the purchasers. By pre‐wiring for a full Nikobus system, it was possible to give each apartment that imperative 'Wow' factor with easy control to achieve different lighting scenes, the music and video distribu‐ tion, as well as providing motorised blinds and curtains that open and close with just the press of a switch.
The Implementation This impressive development consists of a total of 50 apartments, including five penthouses in a desirable location in north London, all with impressive price tags between £250,000 and £1million.
The apartments are part of a comprehensive development that includes a range of different housing styles with retail premises at the ground level. This has the benefit of giving each apartment a balcony for outdoor recreation. The two show flats are controlled using a Philips Pronto, which is easily integrated into a Nikobus system, with distributed audio using the Niko Allegretto and a Nexus server, and Artsound speakers built‐in to the walls or ceilings for discreet listening. Amina speakers, which are plastered into the walls or ceiling have been installed into the en‐suite bathroom of the master bedroom for totally invisible sound.
9: Apartment Living - London
Case Study: Apartment Living
9: Apartment Living - London
Music and video is distributed throughout the house invisibly as all of the hardware is housed alongside the laundry equipment in a specially equipped housing that also accommodates the heating and ventilation controls. Switches are multi‐functional, which makes for more attractive walls and easier controls. For example, there is a shared keypad by the front door of each apartment that has a straightforward light control to turn the energy‐saving hall lamp on or off at the top of the keypad; and a time and energy saving 'All Off' control at the bottom of the keypad, so that on exiting, you can be confident that you have switched off everything necessary in the apartment. Niko switches are available in a range of finishes, which can be interchanged to match any interior. In this way, it is easy for new owners to make their mark by simply changing the panels of their Niko switches to blend in with their own tastes and style. Once an apartment has been purchased, the Niko installer will visit the new owner to discuss their bespoke requirements for their apartment. For example, it is easy to integrate Sky distribution, telephone or additional audio‐video inputs throughout the space. Also included in this service are three visits to learn the system and specify any additional items that may be of benefit. Niko really makes a difference in this development ‐ with flexibility to allow every new owner to experience Niko for himself ‐ and then adapt the system easily for maximum comfort in his life.