ISSUE 1 2015
ARCHITECTURE
TECHNOLOGY
DESIGN
COVER STORY
A Contemporary Villa With a Green Soul
Insights from Home and Building Automation
Architect Marco Piva’s vision on Sustainable Design
A Modern double height Loft in Sofia
SCAN WITH LAYAR TO ENJOY THE SMART BUILDING EXPERIENCE DOWNLOAD SCAN WATCH
the free Layar app onto your smartphone or tablet. this entire page by tapping on the screen within Layar. the video to enjoy the Smart Building experience.
Control, access, and operate your lights, scenarios, aircon, blinds, alarm, CCTV, AV appliances from your smartphone or tablet wherever you are. www.vdagroup.com
6
SMARTLIVING
ISSUE
1 www.smartliving.life
SMART
CONTENTS
PARK LOFT
ECO HOME
24 44 14 38
MARCO PIVA
WATER FRONT CONTRIBUTORS
8
SMARTLIVING
10
SMART
CONTENTS
THE INSIDER
ISSUE 1 2015
SPOTLIGHT
32 52 12 50
GUEST EDITOR
ESCAPE EDITOR’S NOTE
11
SMARTLIVING
9
SMART
CONTRIBUTORS
Ever tried. Ever Failed. No matter. Try again. Fail Again. Fail Better.
Sweet, polite, respectful, and considerate of other people.
COFFEINE ADDICTED
NICHAWAN WONGPITAKSIRI AD•VEN•TUR•OUS adjective • willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences. • full of excitement “Let’s be anventurous”
PARINYA NA RANONG Web designer, quite simple design, fast, nice, punctual, and well communicater.
PHOTOJOURNALIST
POSITIVE THINKER
PRAPARAT INTARATIP
PHOTOHOLIC
ENERGETIC
TRONG DOMEPANANDORN
RAJCHAKIT WANNATRAKUL I really love taking photo. I absolutely like to go out to get new experiences and challenge things.
SMART S TA F F
Digital Director: Trong Domepanandorn Art Director: Nichawan Wongpitaksiri Editorial Team: Pakaorn Wutthisetsoontorn, Papatchaya Supatamarat, Cholticha Adhakulawat, Nusara Promjeam, Praparat Intaratip Photographers: Sanmonchai Ritthirak (Mike), Parinya Na Ranong, Rajchakit Wannatrakul Graphic Designers: Trong Domepanandorn, Nichawan Wongpitaksiri Office Administrator: Suthipa Nuchthanorm Account Executives: Thikamporn Kitpaisansak, Aroon Phomlee Advertising Natchanon Ketkludyoo ad@smartliving.life • edit@smartliving.life
Smart Living Magazine is published and produced on behalf of VDA Group by VDA Asia Pacific Co. Ltd. Smart Living makes every effort to provide true, complete, current and accurate information and cannot be held responsible for any loss, inconvenience, injury or damage resulting from any changes made to the photographs and copy submitted. The opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of VDA Group.
EDITOR’S NOTE
I
am thrilled and proud to welcome you to the new wandering Hub, a new source of inspiration, for smart people who wish to go beyond the future of Architecture, Design and Technology. Smart Living is an enlightened experience, the result of tireless labour from talented people to who I am grateful to have as a team. I would like to say thank you to all of them. We decided to develop a cross media platform to show the content at its best: an e-Mag with interactive content, a specially printed issue with an augmented reality experience, a Smart Living Blog with TV Channel, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and a Newsletter, thus leaving to you the choice of the best channel to stay updated. It was difficult to make a selection from the multitude of content submitted to be published, but this is our mission, to select and present an important showcase of the best projects and most innovative products worldwide, that show fresh and unique content. We have purposely chosen to give a wandering soul to Smart Living, to dedicate each special issue to a specific city, region or country, and bring insider news from that chosen place. For this first special issue we have chosen one of the world’s most prosperous regions, namely South East Asia, with a particular focus on Thailand. With its capital city of Bangkok representing one of the most interesting and dynamic places in the world, Bangkok in the past decades has witnessed a significant growth in size and importance, and in recent years has become a key global hotspot for foreign investors and buyers.
SMART
The Chao Phraya River (the River of the Kings, the King of the Rivers) is the best-loved location for the latest top luxury developments. Take a look at page 38 to discover the most exclusive waterfront living address, The Chao Phraya Estate. On page 14 you can be inspired by the interview with one of the most renowned Italian architect Marco Piva and his vision on Sustainable Design, whilst on page 32 you may take a glance at the forthcoming changes and challenges of wireless technology in an interview with expert Olav Beruto, one of the industry’s most prominent figures. I look forward to sharing more stories with you in the next Issue of Smart Living. Stay tuned to discover the next secret place that we will choose to talk about. Read, Watch, Share. Enjoy the Smart Living experience!
Maria-Amaya Ferrari Editor-In-Chief
SMART
GUEST EDITOR’S PICKS
TOUT VA BIEN Cabinet : Designers : Antoine & Manuel Design Brand : BD Barcelona www.bdbarcelona.com
ZOO Tables : Designer : Claesson Koivisto Rune Design Brand : ASPLUND Limited Edition of 200 Pieces worldwide www.asplund.org
CHANDItGARH Easy Chair : Designer : Doshi & Levien Design Brand - Moroso www.moroso.it
12
SMARTLIVING
HILO Vases Collection: Special Edition for We*Do Gallery Bangkok Designer : Marre Moerel Limited Edition of 8 pieces worldwide www.marremoerel.com
ISSUE 1 2015
FRANCISCO POLO Photos courtesy of We*Do Gallery
is
one of the new leading voices as vanguard curator in the design world. He has, using his discerning eye and signature style, selected exceptional designers and objects for the magazine, that each have in common an authentic handwriting and very personal design viewpoint. Elegant products with a strong sculptural design are shown. Francisco started his first creative and design steps at the well-known Brand Vinรงon. Later on, he opened Studioroomadrid, his first Interior-Architect studio, directing and executing interiors from concept to creation. In 2010 he moved to Asia to open the well-known and acclaimed space We*Do Gallery Bangkok, the first Concept Store in Thailand, awarded by MAISON & OBJET in 2013 as one of the best Contemporary showrooms worldwide. He achieved great success working together with Fashion, Art and Furniture Brands such as Moroso, Capellini, Vitra and B&B Italia, designers such as Marre Moerel and Formafantasma, and Fashion brands such as Maison Martin Margiela and Chanel. Francisco works have been published extensively in many design blogs and magazines such as Wallpaper* Magazine, Elle Decoration, The New York Times, DAMn Magazine, Vogue, Dezeen, CNN and Architectural & Digest. www.wedo-gallery.com
BOTANICA VASE : Limited Edition of 12 pieces Worldwide Designers : Formafantasma Permanent Collection at MOMA New York www.formafantasma.com
SMARTLIVING
13
SMART
WORDS
Marco Piva’s vision on
Sustainable Design Photos courtesy of Studio Marco Piva
14
SMARTLIVING
E
xciting, fluid, functional. This is the language that succinctly defines Marco Piva’s architectural creations, his product designs, and also his interior designs.
Group it created the Suites of Exedra in Rome, the B4 Net Padova Tower, and the Tower Hotel in Bologna (Italy). In Dubai, on Palm Jumeirah, it designed the Tiara Hotel Oceania Hotel, and the innovative complex Porto Dubai.
Smart Living strives to achieve Marco’s vision in such Sustainable Design.
Currently, Marco is engaged in the design of the new complex of the River Port of Novosibirsk (Russia), the construction of the residential complex of Changzhou (China), on the renovation of a monumental building in Saint Petersburg, and in other prestigious private houses.
The effort made in material research and technology, and the value of differentiation through design innovation, lead to the establishment of Studiodada Associates, whose production became one of the most representative of the period of Radical Design. In the ‘80s Studio Marco Piva was created, with its work ranging from large projects to architectural interiors and industrial design. A traveller, designer, and an innovator educated in rational approaches, Marco Piva studies and creates designed solutions that are pervaded by stylistic freedom and compositional sobriety. The Studio participated in the design and construction of the innovative complex Next 21 in Osaka, Japan, the Laguna Palace in Mestre (Italy), the Port Palace in Monte Carlo, and the Hotel Mirage in Kazan (Russia). For the Exedra Boscolo
In Italy, he is completing the Hotel Excelsior Gallia, and collaborating together with the prestigious fashion house Maison Bulgari to design of all its store windows worldwide. Marco Piva Atelier Design has designed for many prestigious brands, such as A Project, Altreforme, Arflex, Arpa Industriale, Bross, Casamilano, Ceramica Cielo, Colombo Design, Gervasoni, Jacuzzi, Kvadrat, i Guzzini Illuminazione, L’Abbate, La Murrina, Lamm, Lapis, Leucos, Moroso, Novello, Oikos, Poliform, Poltrona Frau, Reflex, Schonhuber Franchi, Serralunga, Sicis, So Far So Near, Tisettanta, Unopiù, VDA, W52, and Zonca.
Hotel Excelsior Gallia
Fluid Collection
What, in your opinion, are the main aspects to keeping in focus the development phase of a project nowadays? With the evolution of today’s society, there are number of issues that assume an increasing importance in the fulfillment of an architectural project or design product. These issues are related to the use of the materials, the sustainability of the production process, the possibility of recycling the product at the end of its use, and to have the least possible impact on the available resources and the territory. Beyond such things that represent an added value from a point of view of ethical design, others need also be considered. For example, the capacity of the object/ product to be functional and attractive, from an aesthetic point of view, and embrace the “spirit of the times”. Today and in the near future, the product/project must be able to establish a series of connections with the end user that are not only functional, but also formal, emotional, perceptive and synesthetic. What do you consider essential when you develop a project?
In my projects, I have always put first the research on materials and new technologies related to sustainability and energy efficiency themes. My aim is to construct buildings with guaranteed certification with regard to the architecture, where both nature and architecture meet in order to develop structures that cause the least environmental impact. For example, in the facades of the Hotel Excelsior Gallia in Milan, which will be inaugurated during the Expo 2015, a lighting study of the façades has been carried out with the aim of highlighting the decorative and allegorical details of the historic building with lighting systems that cannot be seen. So the special elements and detail of the building can be “described” without having an impact on the surrounding areas. Moreover, LED lighting systems have been used for both exteriors and interiors to ensure a longer life for the systems and therefore creating less maintenance, with resultant and substantial energy and cost savings. In the National Trade Building in Harbin, China, characterized by a harsh climate up to 40 degrees below zero, new strategies were required to be faced in order to reduce energy consumption. The architectural development proposes to introduce new technologies in the field of glass and facade systems, considering the façade as part of the strategic energy containment.
SMARTLIVING
17
SMART
WORDS
National Trade Building Harbin
Lithea Ciuri
Vitrum Smart Switches by VDA
… and during a product design process?
Vitrum is in fact a control device system that can manage the entire lighting system in an elegant and intuitive way, where design, technology, ergonomics and sustainability are in balance, in a magical combination of glass and light. The synthesis of technology and design “Made in Italy” at the service of environmental sustainability.
As for design, what has always attracted me is its need to be linked to research and experimentation, not only from the formal and functional point of view, but also from a semantic and social one. For example, in designing the products of Fluid Collection for Ceramica Cielo, I have used the latest technology for the processing of the materials, but have also studied new packaging solutions in order to minimize excess and wastefulness, looking to achieve a maximum sustainability. Moreover, we have developed a process of rationalization and the reuse of water in the production phases, which have led to a reduction in fuel consumption by about 50%. How are the increasing needs of sustainability impacting on today’s trends? From the point of view of light and the entire lighting system, from homes to large structures the theme of environmental sustainability has become unavoidable. It has become a particularly overwhelming trend in today’s lighting world, it moving from efficient lighting to smart lighting. Therefore, it is fundamental to use programs able to govern the entire space’s lighting system, such as through the use of Vitrum Smart Switches that I am now using within a prestigious interior design project in China called Club House.
Please, could you specify the key factors of the Vitrum Smart Switches. The functionality of the ECOSWITCH allows you to set the light in two stages. The first powered control light is set to an intensity of 65%, while with the second pressure it reaches 100%. In Vitrum the design has a fundamental role not only in making technology “legible” and easy to use, but also in defining the appearance of the product, which in this case is suggested by simple, highly elegant lines. To conclude, I do not think that it makes sense to talk about design as an end in itself today. The trend of the future will be to put technology, and design, at the service of the environment, creating new objects and projects that start from ethics, and subsequently achieve the aesthetics.
www.studiomarcopiva.com
SMARTLIVING
19
HOW SALTO CAN BRING YOU THE SOLUTION: SALTO’s mobile solutions are about bringing better security and usability to both end-users and system managers. Endusers gain convenience without sacrificing security, and facility managers distinguish their property with cost-effective solutions that clients truly value. To understand the full potential of the JustIN Mobile Key solution in your property, please contact your local SALTO office to set up a live demo.
The access control company you can rely on: EMAIL: info.hospitality@saltosystems.com WEB: www.saltosystems.com
PROVIDE YOUR GUESTS WITH A HOTEL EXPERIENCE THEY VALUE AND WANT TO REPEAT BY FACILITATING THEIR CHECK-IN EXPERIENCE WITHOUT SACRIFICING THEIR SECURITY AND COMFORT.
SALTO’s new JustIN Mobile Key technology allows guests to use their smartphone as their hotel room key. The intuitive JustIN mobile key app, developed and implemented by SALTO, communicates securely with your smart device via the Cloud and enables a hotel guest to receive their room key online, anytime and anywhere. For the guest, the process is as simple as arriving at the hotel and deciding to receive the room key on their smartphone (both iOS and Android devices are supported) without necessarily going through the traditional check-in process. It’s that easy. SALTO JustIN Mobile Key works across the SALTO product range including XS4 and AElement electronic lock collections. To use SALTO’s mobile key solution, no special software is required and it combines Ultralight C, Desfire EV1, Mifare Plus, Bluetooth and NFC technologies into one secure package. A SALTO mobile key cannot be duplicated, unlike mechanical keys or some RFID technologies, and its encrypted data transfer uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) AES 128 bit encryption opening procedures. Technologically cutting-edge, SALTO mobile key means the end of lost key hassle, expense and waste, plus reception queues are minimized. The JustIN Mobile Key can also be used on main entrance doors, elevators, car park barriers, meeting rooms etc, as well as hotel rooms
1
2
SECURE
• Smartphone authentication technology for verifying a mobile user’s identity: PIN / Fingerprint. • Encrypted data transfer between phone and lock means secure authentication. • Fast and highly secure data transmission and anti-cloning technology protection.
BETTER GUEST EXPERIENCE • Online key management. • Instant extended stay. • Instant room change. • Personalized promotions.
3
4
EASY TO USE • SALTO’s intuitive app lets an enduser receive his keys online, anytime and anywhere. • Works with the guest’s existing iOS and Android smartphone devices.
HOTEL ROOM MANAGEMENT • Minimize lost key expense. • A true welcome for your guest. • Positioning as smart hotel, technologically cutting-edge.
NEW
XS4Reader
Cutting-edge design. SALTO technology.
NEW
XS4Mini
Cutting-edge design. SALTO technology.
A new generation of products: Jump to tomorrow’s access control design standard and ensure that both your building’s security and visual appeal are taken to a new level. Welcome to SALTO. Welcome to a new design concept. SALTOs XS4 Mini raises the bar on stylish design thanks to the XS4 Mini’s discreet size combined with a modern, clean LED aesthetic. The Mini’s smart compactness simplifies installation in virtually any kind of door, complementing the designer’s “vision”. The new SALTO XS4 Reader is much more than just a wall reader. It’s the bridge between the online and the offline world. It invokes the SALTO design standard that makes it exceptionally easy for the user, and combined with the SALTO XS4 Controller, it boosts the potential of any property and facilitates its integration with almost any interface. Plus the XS4 Reader is incredibly efficient from a network and IT architecture perspective, making it easy to install while also providing a host of features and functionality.
PARK LOFT Photos by Minko Minev
In
Lozenets, one of the most prestigious neighborhoods of Sofia, Bulgaria, overlooking the greenery of the South Park and the Vitosha Mountain, is located Red Apple. A commanding 13 storey building, designed by Aedes Studio and built by Sofbuild, where the spirit of Soho can be felt through its red brick walls, high ceilings, huge glazings, balconies, and rooftop gardens.
On the eleventh floor is nested an impressive double height Loft, spread over 152sqm, masterfully designed by a team of architects from Studio Mode. It is named Park Loft. The architecture’s volume grows around a central cubic fireplace in black and white, defining the social hearth of the loft. In the living room, a huge library crosses over the ceiling and reaches into the elevated space, reachable through a floating staircase. On the left of the fireplace, following the infinite wooden wall, the kitchen pops up in a plain white open space, with modern appliances and massive hidden doors that separate the social areas from the more private areas. The white colour throughout, the warmth of the bold wooden panels and exposed bricks blend seamlessly, creating a modern and clean space with a smooth and natural transition from this amazing building’s façade. The choice made, to switch the materials, placing the timber on the wall and the total white on the floor, gives such style and sophistication. The high quality lighting is hidden within the walls and doors, or sometimes suspended elegantly from the ceiling, using the stunning design of the Vitrum Smart Switches nested within the furniture to control it.
SMARTLIVING
27
28
SMARTLIVING
Smart Touch Points
“Simplicity Is Complexity Resolved” Constantin Brâncuși
DESIGN
TECHNOLOGY
CUSTOMISATION
Scan to discover Vitrum’s World
Building Automation Devices
ERGONOMICS
SUSTAINABILITY
100% MADE IN ITALY
www.vdagroup.com
RELIABLE
SMART
INDUSTRY INSIDER
ISSUE 1 2015
THE INSIDER Buildings and Homes are becoming more and more automated, reaching new frontiers in communication and interactions with men. To have some insights we posted some questions to Olav Beruto, one of the industry’s most prominent figures.
SMARTLIVING
33
SMART
34
INDUSTRY INSIDER
SMARTLIVING
ISSUE 1 2015
O
lav Beruto is the new Director for the Asia-Pacific Region of VDA Group, a leading company in the development of innovative IPTV solutions, Home and Building Automation and Smart Switches for Residential and Hospitality Industry. After graduated with Honors in Economics, he started his career in Corporate Finance working for leading international Investment Banks moving afterwards in the Real Estate Development and Fund Management industry. Lately his passion for the technology and research pushed him to join the VDA Group. He has developed a Luxury Boutique Resort in the charming area of Barolo, the most iconic food & wine region in the world, selecting the best products, technologies and innovative building materials to meet the increasingly demanding requests of the Resort guest while accomplishing the target of creating the first Italian truly eco and self-sustaining Resort.
Real Estate Developer now can effectively reach two key objectives at the same time: create significant additional value for their assets and enhance the owner and end user experience.
SMARTLIVING
35
Mr.
Beruto, in the recent years, Home and Building automation has experienced a rapid growth while increasing its sophistication. How these new technologies affect a real estate development and end user experience? Real Estate Developer now can effectively reach two key objectives at the same time: create significant additional value for their assets and enhance the owner and end user experience. In addition this increases the perceived quality of their final product and therefore results in a better market and price positioning while differentiating their product in respect to traditional development present in the market. From a Developer perspective what are the key benefits of implementing these technologies? It improves their time to market, enhance the overall value proposition of their project delivering a better product in terms of energy efficiency and security while providing advanced monitoring and remote control features to their units and embedded appliances. These results can be reached both with wired or wireless systems. There is not a golden rule to apply while choosing which system to implement and every decision has to be addressed analyzing each single project and its intimate objectives. The VDA Group can provide the market with both system architectures and in particular, ModBus and KNX for the wired solutions while Z-Wave for the wireless. Many readers may be not familiar with the Z-Wave wireless protocol and its benefits. Can you expand on this matter?
36
SMARTLIVING
VDA has been one of the early adopter of the Z-Wave technology as we saw from the very beginning its great potentials. In addition we are already upgrading all our products to the newly released and more powerful Z-Wave Plus standard. Z-Wave Plus is a low power energy efficient, wireless protocol for embedded systems and it can be deployed in a wide array of smart building solutions. It supports full and solid mesh networks without the need for a coordinator node and operates in the sub-1GHz band hence not suffering from any interference from Wi-Fi and other wireless technologies in the 2.4-GHz range like Bluetooth and ZigBee. Z-Wave has been extremely successful so far simply because it works smoothly, it is easy to set up, grants full backwards compatibility and, most of all, it maintains a strong standard and certification program across an extremely wide product range across all categories of smart building solutions. Is Z-Wave a future proof platform? Z-Wave most of all means interoperability and this is the key word for future expansion. Recently it has been announced that it will be soon launched a standardised solutions to join in directly with Apple’s HomeKit environment and with NEST’s development partnerships. This will further broaden the product range, features and scope of Z-Wave technology across the major and leading platforms giving the protocol a solid and future proof global growth.
ISSUE 1 2015
CHAO PHRAYA ESTATE A unique iconic landmark on the Chao Phraya River.
T
hailand hosts over 16 million visitors each year, with Bangkok surpassing London, Paris, New York and Dubai as the world’s most popular travel destination, according to the MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities.
Bangkok showed a significant growth in size and importance, becoming a key global hotspot for business and leisure travelers while attracting for foreign investors and buyers. This has led to a significant growth in the Hospitality Industry with numerous Luxury hotels and Resort being developed and all facing the challenge to create a distinctive and unique design and guest experience. Among the projects recently completed and still under development, the most anticipated one, for its magnificence and prominence, is The Chao Phraya Estate developed by
40
SMARTLIVING
Country Group Development, a unique iconic landmark on Bangkok’s first paved road along the Chao Phraya River (The River of the Kings - the King of the Rivers), and the best-loved location for the latest top luxury developments. Consisting of a 73 storey, it is an ultra-luxurious residential tower, with two premium-brand hotels covering a total area of 36 Rai (approximately 58.000 m² / 14 acres) and 350 meters of prime waterfront promenade. Designed to set a new standard in luxury, the Chao Phraya Estate will be home to the new Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at the Chao Phraya River, the Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok, and the first Capella Hotel in Thailand. The international studio Hamiltons International develops the design and the master plan, whilst the interior design is by BAMO Group and PIA Interior. The project is followed by the renowned Architect Studio Dhevanand and Engineering Consultants, Meinhardt.
ISSUE 1 2015
The residential tower, one of the tallest in Bangkok and the world’s biggest Four Seasons Private Residence located on a riverbank, is inspired by its spectacular waterfront location, with stunning panoramic views across all 355 world-class residences. It consist of 115sqm 2 bedroom residences, and 1,050sqm for a penthouse residence, and will feature a collection of exclusive amenities. An entry elegant foyer, a private lounge, a river-facing infinity pool, a state-of-theart fitness centre and a rooftop Four Seasons Club triplex with glass walled wine room to store prized vintages. There will also be a golf simulator, billiard table, cigar-room, a private screening room and an infinity pool overlooking the superb skyline from the 66th floor. The highest quality of the finishes that extend throughout reflects the commitment to innovation and the exquisite standards of the finest hotel suites of the brand. It contains Italian marble, luxury bathrooms, Bulthaup quality built-in kitchens, and the ultimate technology in Home and Building Automation by VDA.
The Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, located on the longest promenade of the Chao Phraya River, is projected to become one of Bangkok’s most exclusive addresses and emblematic of the finest in luxury hospitality, featuring 312 elegant Suites, cascading lush green courtyards, and the largest convention hall among all the hotels on the river-promenade. The 100-key Capella Hotel includes lush tropical gardens and riverfront villas, as well as guestrooms and suites with magnificent interiors and spacious outdoor showers. The Hotel will feature two gourmet restaurants, a riverfront bar, a 9000 square-foot spa, a 7500 square-foot ballroom, a series of riverfront designer retail shops, and an outdoor pool
SMARTLIVING
41
SMART
A
ECO HOME
Green
Contemporary
With a
Soul Villa
Photos by Parinya Na Ranong | Rajchakit Wannatrakul
In
1990, a British Economist and Building Construction expert moved to Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok from Africa, the continent where he had lived for over 20 years,
A modern Japanese cubic design glass Villa became his home here, it having been designed by architects Stephen J Leach + Associates, the structural and mechanical team having been led by Aurecon Engineers.
T
he innovative design of the Villa comprises of three floors, with two spacious living areas, blended harmoniously into the location and surroundings. The heart of the Villa, a lovely lush garden, allows all its natural light to charmingly pierce the interior, coloring the white material finishes and furniture and furnishings throughout the day. The sun shines through the palm leaves of the Villa’s green soul, keeping the light and temperature within the house at an optimum, and creating its ambient calm.
DOWNLOAD SCAN WATCH
the free Layar app onto your smartphone or tablet. this entire page by tapping on the screen within Layar. the video to enjoy the 3D project animation.
SMARTLIVING
47
SMART
ECO HOME
A
north-facing building, with crystal clear windows oriented windward, provides it with its gentle breeze. The boutique ceiling fan and windows along the open stairs perfectly balances the ventilation all day long. Thanks to the use of cavity walls, providing high performance energy savings and preventing heat transfer from the outside, the villa is always kept cool. Eco-friendly technology was selected, as was solar energy to warm the water. UV filters out the detritus from portable water and LED lights save energy. The Vitrum smart switches in Wood, produced by VDA, blend the feel of outdoor nature and high-end technology. The dark brown color of the natural wood of these switches also gives the home a warm and most modern feel.
48
SMARTLIVING
T
he owners adore travelling the world and love collecting ancient furniture from the local antique dealers, filling the house full of memories of their journeys through Asia. On the coffee table in the large living room, guests will find travelling books and collections of pictures and stories of the many voyages the owner has experienced around the world. Taking in the most fragrant smell of coffee erupting from guest’s coffee cups, whilst chatting with one another, and discovering the five continents through the eyes of a curious and most knowledgeable traveler with a bohemian and adventurous spirit, the sound of the people talking and laughing in the cozy main living room, filling this house with happiness, was a most original way to enjoy such a cup of coffee.
ISSUE 1 2015
SMARTLIVING
49
SMART
ESCAPE
Photos courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Aaron Saunders
F
or travelers who want to explore in a luxurious way, there is a new super ship that brings you inside the most beautiful cities of Europe, the S.S. Maria Theresa, the Uniworld’s most ambitious and majestic ship to date.
Conceived by design visionaries from the Red Carnation Hotel Collection —Uniworld’s award-winning sister company—this resplendent Super Ship is a fitting tribute to the much loved and long-reigning Maria Theresa, the Habsburg dynasty’s only female ruler. You will marvel the Jewels of Europe through four countries along three great rivers—the Danube, Main, and Rhine—and to countless UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can travel like royalty aboard this one-of-a-kind masterpiece, which features Baroque-inspired interiors created by a team of specially commissioned artisans, and sets new standards for luxury, artistry, and technological innovation. The 150-passenger S.S. Maria Theresa offers 64 staterooms (162 – 194 sq ft), 10 suites (305 sq ft), and a spectacular Royal Suite ( 410 sq ft) with separate sleeping and living quarters. The lavishly appointed Riverview Staterooms and Suites feature handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, 100% Egyptian cotton linens, Marble bathrooms with L’Occitane en Provence products individual thermostat, flat screen TV with infotainment center, the advanced Room Automation technology by VDA and the Vitrum Smart Switches customized in gold. All Suites are uniquely decorated and have additional amenities and services, including iPod® docking station, Nespresso coffee machine and fine teas, Hermés bath products, fabric wall coverings, plush carpets, antique furnishings and open-air or French balconies.
50
SMARTLIVING
ISSUE 1 2015
Discover the Jewels of Europe on a six star river cruising experience.
SMARTLIVING
51
SMART
SPOTLIGHT
LG
Gessi
Vitrum launched the futuristic Vitrum Sense Collection, a totally new concept of material and design, sensually relieved buttons forged in a smooth surface for a seamless fusion of lines, sensations and gestures.
Enjoy easy and flexible content editing exploiting infinite layouts and possibilities with the world’s narrowest LG Video Wall. Create a stunning visual signage with the ultimate ultra high resolution UHD panel.
Gessi opens CASA GESSI in the deep heart of Singapore, Penang Road, in an inspirational Victorian Mansion where the Gessi’s world of beauty, wellness and creativity is displayed at its best.
www.vitrumsense.com
www.lg.com
www.gessi.com
New Vitrum
SENSE
52
SMARTLIVING
’s near Seamless Video Wall
flagship boutique opening in Singapore
ISSUE 1 2015
A
personal Concierge in the hands of Hotel’s guests
Priscilla
is a fully tailored mobile application that improves hotel’s productivity and the guests’ satisfaction throughout their pre-during-post stay experience
www.mediaconcepts.com
B
owers & Wilkins announced the P5 Maserati Edition Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones.
Bowers & Wilkins
and Maserati are both renowned for their dedication to technological innovation in the pursuit of ultimate performance, luxurious attention to detail and use of premium materials, and for the performance and quality of their range. It is therefore fitting that once again the two companies are collaborating to make great products. www.bowers-wilkins.com
C
ontrol your home from the top of the World
Mariusz
Małkowski, from Z-Wave Alliance, started the “FIBARO Mt. Everest Challenge”. He will try to scale the Everest without oxygen and control his home with FIBARO home automation system from the very TOP of the world.
www.fibaroeverest.com
SMARTLIVING
53
TRENDS
SMART