This impressive cliff-top new build property embraces the 21st century by cleverly weaving easy-to-use, fully supported home automation into the fabric of the building, based around Niko Home Control. This case study first appeared in the pages of Essential Install and Intelligent Homes Magazine.
Located on the Southwest Coast Path in Maenporth, Cornwall, Seahorses aims to blend coastal elegance with cutting edge technology. Located near Falmouth, this new build property (replacing an existing bungalow) was built under the guidance of architect and designer Iris Projects. The house was built as a retirement home for the owners, but also needed to accommodate paying holidaymakers in the premium holiday rental market when the owners were away. At the heart of the home is the Niko Home Control system which coordinates every aspect of the home's functioning.
Andy Moss, owner of Moss Technical Services, Niko's official UK distributor, explains: “The Ultraline sliding doors are a key element in making the most of the home's fantastic views. We supplied the company with smart locks and they were the ones who introduced us to the homeowners.”
“He wanted to create a retirement home but also be able to rent out the property when he wasn't living there, so the system needed to be very easy to use and able to switch modes from 'rental' to 'home' mode.”
Andy adds: “In rental mode, the system restricts access to certain areas and aspects of the home, such as personal areas like the customer's wardrobe. You can also access the system remotely to update features and check the health of the system at any time, making it flexible, efficient and reliable.”
Andy further explains: “This Niko Home Control installation is a full BUS wired installation, however as the use of the property changed to part-time holiday letting after completion of the home, we were able to add Niko Home Control wireless Zigbee control, providing wardrobe locks and a range of other additional control elements, with the added functionality seamlessly integrated into the BUS system already installed.”
Integrated lighting throughout the home and grounds is controlled by interior and exterior wall controls and easy-to-use interactive touch screens, and unobtrusively integrated motion and presence detection (including on exterior IP rated units) allows many of the lighting functions to be automated and controlled based on whether the space is being used.
Niko's Pure Series wall controls and interactive touch screen provide an intuitive and attractive control point, allowing easy and quick access to the different settings and atmospheres in your home. The 7″ interactive screen can be used to control video inputs as required or to find out more about the home's features.
Seahorses features 12 underfloor heating zones and towel radiators managed by Niko Home Control to ensure maximum comfort all year round, and residents can adjust the temperature to their preference, creating a cosy retreat whatever the season.
Niko Home Control also enables owners to optimise natural light and airflow, from automatically adjusting blinds to regulating ventilation, creating a comfortable indoor environment tailored to personal preferences.
Video gate entry, door locking mechanisms, fire alarm and intruder alarm systems are also integrated with the Niko Home Control ecosystem to protect the Seahorse and provide peace of mind to residents.
Improved Entertainment and Connectivity
The home also offers a variety of entertainment options: a Sonos multi-room audio system provides music for every mood. The Sonos system also works in conjunction with Amina speakers located in the main entertainment/gaming space.
At Seahorses, centralised SkyQ and CCTV distribution by HDAynwhere gives residents seamless access to their favourite entertainment options, as well as access to feeds from security cameras.
High-speed wireless and wired networks, both indoors and outdoors, primarily provided by Netgear and Ubiquity, allow residents to stay connected to the digital world and stay connected while they work and play.
Seamless integration, easy control
Despite being packed with advanced technology, Seahorses remains user-friendly with a full suite of app and voice control features. Whether it's adjusting the lighting, setting the temperature or queuing up their favourite playlist, residents can manage every aspect of their home environment with a simple voice command or tap of their smartphone.
Essential Kit List
Niko Home Control – Lighting, Heating, Ventilation, Shading, Gate Entry, Door Locks
Niko Pure Range Wall Control (White Steel Finish)
Niko Digital Black Touchscreen (up to 12 functions per DB – customer selectable and customizable via app)
Netgear 48 Port PoE Smart Switch
Prism AV Rack
Ubiquity Unifi6 Wireless Access Points (internal and external)
Sonos Multiroom Audio – Beam, Arc, Amp, MiniSub
Amina Mobius 5i invisible speaker
HDAnywhere MHUB Pro 4K Matrix
Ultraline sliding door + smart lock
Niko HD Video Entry and Gate Control
Niko 7 inch touch screen
