Meticulous planning has resulted in a seamless blend of cutting-edge technology and stunning architecture in this luxury home in Sandton, and HiddenWires spoke to integrator BNC Technology to find out more.
It was five years ago that BNC Technology began construction of this new-build home in South Africa. The home, House Sandton, was conceived as a smart home, packed with technology to provide compelling entertainment options, unparalleled comfort and robust security, while remaining easy to control and manage for the family who lives there.
A common complaint from integrators working on residential projects is that they don’t get involved early enough, missing out on important planning meetings with architects and other trades, which can negatively impact the end result.
This was not the case with House Sandton. BNC Technology worked closely with Nico van der Muelen Architects from the start, ensuring close collaboration with the other industries involved in the realisation of the project. This not only ensured that the integrator had a say in key planning decisions, but also helped the homeowners to closely monitor progress and costs, as all contractors met weekly to discuss the project.
Once work began, everything seemed to go smoothly, thanks to meticulous initial planning and close collaboration between each discipline. Then COVID-19 hit. Work was halted, and when it resumed, BNC Technology faced some additional challenges that required creative thinking to solve.
Delays meant that some products were changed from the original specifications, and the new models obsoleted some of the selected technology. This was a direct replacement of some elements, such as the control touch panel and remote control, but there were also areas that required more attention. For example, where the speakers were built into the wall or ceiling, areas had been cut out to accommodate the cabinets. When selecting the new models, it was necessary to ensure that the BNC technology would fit the original dimensions.
Simple Control, Complex Integration
The technical specification for this project was ambitious: whilst technology is integrated throughout the home, one of the client's priorities was that it be easy to control and manage, and become part of the everyday life of the family living at House Sandton.
BNC Technology used its expertise to not only steer its clients in the right direction regarding the technology selected, but also to ensure homeowners understood how they could utilize their home.
“We wanted to improve the lives of the families who live there and ultimately change their lives,” said Jessica Le Roux, marketing director at BNC Technology.
This impressive home has five bedrooms, including a master bedroom suite with dressing room, and plenty of space to relax, entertain and enjoy life, including a gym, wine cellar, dining and kitchen area, veranda (covered outdoor area), family room, games room, study for children and parents, and a staff utility room.
Technology is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the building, with controls easily accessible and many functions automated through the use of pre-set programming and sensors installed throughout the home.
The Control4 control system is at the heart of the project, and BNC Technology's electronic systems designer Mbali Xulu describes it as “a complete turnkey automation system handling lighting, multi-room audio and intercom systems.” A Control4 CA-10 automation controller and EA-5 entertainment and automation controller are the brains of the system, with video signals routed through an AVPro Edge AC-Axion-8 AV matrix switch paired with an HDBaseT receiver. BNC Technology also provided the homeowners with Control4 Neeo remote controls and in-wall and portable T4 Series 10-inch touchscreens.
Pakedge routers are installed and network traffic is managed by Pakedge managed switches to ensure fail-safe video streaming and media distribution throughout the home.
Technology integration begins even before entering the home, in the garage, where sensors activate automatic lighting to illuminate cars and people walking up the driveway as the garage door opens. Homeowners have even more control via the Lutron Pico car visor clip from BNC Technology. Once in the garage, homeowners can use the “home” button to turn on lights in common areas throughout the home.
Extensive Lutron lighting fixtures are a standout feature of the project, along with DALI-controlled color switching. Remote access to the lighting system is facilitated by the Lutron Connect Bridge, which links the Lutron HomeWorks QS processor to the cloud. Lighting control signals are communicated using the DMX communications protocol, and Palladium and Pico scene keypads were installed to allow easy control.
Throughout the residence, lighting is used creatively, subtly and sometimes dramatically. One highlight is the spectacular glass staircase at the heart of the home, illuminated by color-changing lighting fixtures. Xulu says: “Residents can choose the lighting to suit their mood – they can have a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, or they can be in a party mood and have the staircase lit up accordingly.”
Complex integration was required to achieve the desired effect, while at the same time providing an easy-to-control system to allow homeowners to get the most out of a powerful, dynamic setup. Adding to the complexity, BNC technology was required to allow products from different vendors to integrate and communicate with each other. This required extensive product testing and also required the integrator to adjust the setup and increase the size of the lighting circuits as the build progressed.
The living room and outdoor patio are known as the entertainment areas. Glass doors blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, uniting the outdoor pool with the elegant living room.
The advanced control also extends to entertainment areas, where homeowners can manage the pool lighting as well. Entertainment is important to the residents of House Sandton, and great care has been taken in installing the technology so that it can be tailored to the specific needs of each member of the family and the type of event they are hosting. Multiple colour themes for lighting and audio level settings have been employed to cater for different atmospheres and different gatherings.
Sights, sounds and safety
In terms of AV technology, content is provided by Apple TV and DStv satellite entertainment on displays ranging from 55″ to 82″, and each screen comes with a Control4 Neeo remote control. The displays are mounted with Vogel's TV brackets. An additional 32″ display connected to the security system has been installed in the kitchen, and the staff room also has its own 55″ display.
BNC Technology further enhanced the setup in the gaming room, adding a Denon AVR and PlayStation 5 to the 82-inch display installed in the space, where audio is output through five Klipsch in-ceiling speakers and an SVS subwoofer.
For audio, the multi-room system delivers sound to every room in the home through a combination of Klipsch ceiling speakers and Amina Mobius in-wall speakers powered by Audio Control amplifiers. For spaces that need a more punchy system, BNC Technology chose Amina and M&K Sound subwoofers. Audio sources include Apple TV, and music can be streamed from the Control4 EA-5 entertainment and automation controller.
BNC Technology took the time to research their customers' needs when it came to intercoms, finding out whether homeowners needed an intercom system for all calls, only for certain calls, or whether they wanted simultaneous calling. To meet the family's specific needs, BNC Technology chose a system from German company Siedle, which is not commonly found in South Africa.
The home is equipped with an advanced security system that uses Luma Surveillance outdoor cameras connected to a Luma Surveillance NVR, allowing the homeowners to view camera footage on displays throughout the home.
BNC Technology centralized much of the equipment to keep space neat throughout the house, and they installed a server room in the basement with two racks of equipment.
The home is equipped with solar panels and a backup generator. South Africa presents unique challenges when it comes to energy usage due to the country's limited power supply and the use of load shedding. Load shedding means South Africans may not have electricity from the grid for four to six hours a day, depending on where you live, leading many homeowners to try to use their own power sources.
As well as providing additional power supplies, energy conservation was essential. One of the ways the home reduces energy requirements is through the use of Faradite's sensor network, which sends commands to turn off technology in areas where inactivity is detected. Xulu explains: “We needed to understand how and when each area of the home was being used, and where we could most effectively place sensors.” BNC Technology also wanted to reduce the number of buttons needed for control, to streamline the home. “Little details like lowering the blinds at preset times not only save energy, but also add to the home's sense of automation,” adds Xulu.
For BNC Technology, this project ended up being much more than just about integration. The scope of work also included figuring out how the client could best access the controls. Even when the integration was simple, it was sometimes difficult for the client to figure out how to control it with a keypad. For example, the panel next to the garage door needed a dedicated button for each door in the house, rather than an interface with options. This was a bigger technical challenge, but ultimately more streamlined and effective for the client. The extra effort paid off, resulting in effective, simple controls that homeowners could use with ease.
Despite the added challenges posed by the pandemic, House Sandton is now completed and home to a satisfied customer. BNC Technology operates remote care through a subscription service, with Le Roux explaining that clients “subscribe to the Gold Option service, which provides service three times a year and is always on call.” Plans for a cinema room are also underway, so the journey isn't over yet.
Technical Specifications
AudioControl Architect P2660 Amplifier
AudioControl Architect P800 Amplifier
AudioControl RS 500 Subwoofer Amplifier
Amina ALF40 subwoofer
Amina ALF80 subwoofer
Amina Mobius in-wall speaker
Apple TV 4K 32GB
Araknis AN-210-SW-R-8-POE Network Switch
Araknis 700 Series Outdoor Wireless Access Points
AVPro Edge AC-AXION-8 Matrix Switcher
AVPro Edge AC-EX70-444-RNE HDBaseT Receiver
Control4 CA-10 Automation Controller
Control4 EA-5 Entertainment and Automation Controller
Control4 V2 IO Extender
Control4 Neeo Remote Control
Control4 T4 Series Touchscreen
Definition Automation CF48-55 Flap-Out TV Lift
Denon AVR-X2700H AVR
DStv Decoder
DStv Dish Kit
Dynaudio Subwoofer
Faradite Motion Sensor
Furman PL-PRO-DM CE Power Conditioner
HDAnywhere XTND 2K HDMI Extender
HDAnywhere SPMAX12 Splitter
HDAnywhere 10m HDMI Cable
Klipsch DS-180-CDT Ceiling Speaker
Kordz HDMI Cable
Luma 510 Series Outdoor Camera
Luma 510 Series NVRs
Lutron Connect Bridge
Lutron HomeWorks QS Processor
Lutron Palladium keypad
Lutron Pico Scene Keypad
Lutron Pico Car Visor Clip
Pakedge PowerPak 8I Power Distribution Unit
Pakedge Managed and Unmanaged Switches
Pakedge RK-1 Router
Pakedge WA-2200-O-1 Outdoor Access Point
PHD Solutions HDMIDAC2 HDMI Audio Extractor
Seidl Intercom
Somfy RS485 Transmitter
Sonos Arc Soundbar
Sonos Gen3 Subwoofer
SVS SB1000 Subwoofer
Triad TS-AMS24 Audio Matrix
Vogel's THIN550 TV bracket
Vogel's WALL 3305 TV bracket
Vogel's TVM 3445 TV bracket