State-of-the-art home automation systems are becoming increasingly accessible to the mainstream residential market as technological breakthroughs reduce costs and extend capabilities. The fact that a home’s lighting and entertainment systems can be designed to reflect the changing needs and moods of its occupants—simply and without the need for a multitude of control units—is an extremely attractive proposition, and a key factor in the growth in demand for these systems.

One company at the forefront of the intelligent home industry is specialist residential systems integrator, Morban Ltd. Based in Lancashire and Oxfordshire. Morban was the first UK member of the prestigious Dimension dealer accreditation and training program, established by lighting control and automation group, Philips Dynalite. Morban designs and installs high-tech home automation solutions that can ‘join-up’ lighting, security, AV, environmental, communications and media systems.

When the owner of a prestigious house in the North London suburb of Finchley wanted to incorporate cutting-edge lighting and automation design elements into his home renovation, it was to Morban that he turned. From initial conceptualisation, through the design process to installation and commissioning, Morban Ltd has provided this luxury residence with an integrated and customised home automation system.

Vision in lights
“The idea was to create an intelligent building that encompasses more than just automated lighting,” says the property owner. “I visualised a house where aspects such as lighting, blinds and home entertainment components are all integrated into a single system. Above all, I wanted a design that is easy to use, rugged enough to withstand interaction with children, and capable of setting different moods simply and effectively.”

The minimalist Philips Dynalite Revolution 2 wall panels provide an intuitive interface for users of all ages and experience.

After comparing the different concepts and offerings from several specialist home automation providers, the home-owner settled on Morban. “As a company, Morban stood out as being exceptionally professional. They portrayed the most forward-thinking ideas and had the best product knowledge,” he says. “When Morban specified a Philips Dynalite solution for the project, I was initially sceptical that it would be as good as the home automation systems I have experienced before. As the design developed, however, I became aware of the versatility and strengths of this product range — and how accomplished it had to be to achieve such a wide array of automation results.”

Morban Technical Director, Gary Morgan, says that Morban selected Philips Dynalite as a lighting control partner, due to the capabilities of its range of solutions and the helpfulness of its staff. “Morban has worked with Philips Dynalite for a number of years,” he says. “Becoming a Dimension dealer was a natural progression, and a move that has subsequently cemented the bond between the two companies. In the time we have worked together, Morban hasn’t yet come across a customer requirement that is beyond the scope of the Philips Dynalite system and software.”

From dream to design reality
According to Morgan, the transition from dream to a design reality for this top-end family home was a perfect example of the design collaboration process at its best. “The client had an unusually clear concept of the overall outcomes and effects he wanted to achieve,” he says. “We worked with him in the design phase to develop these ideas—helping him realise his vision. The flexibility and broad capabilities of the Philips Dynalite solution-set made the fine-tuning of the design requirements relatively easy to accomplish.”

The renovation of this luxurious five-bedroom property entailed the installation of sophisticated lighting controls in all the key areas of the building, including the entire ground floor, the master bedroom and en-suite. The project scope incorporated mood lighting, sensor-activated lighting in common hallway areas, automated blinds and integration with AV systems.

In total, the project incorporated 49 controlled lighting channels. The system is supervised by five Philips Dynalite controllers—two leading-edge and three multipurpose units. The leading-edge controllers manage both the custom-built chandeliers located in the downstairs reception area, and the dimmable circuits. The multipurpose controllers supervise the dimming fluorescents, cold cathode, LED and in-ground metal halide lighting circuits, and further provide control for the motorised venetian blinds incorporated into the large bi-fold doors from the house to the rear terrace.

Simple and stylish
The integration aspects of the design extend beyond the ability to control the blinds through the lighting controls, however. The AV systems in both the master bedroom and TV room have been provided with universal remote control units, from which it is also possible to control the lighting to those areas. Furthermore, the home security is integrated into the Philips Dynalite system, with ‘welcome’ and ‘goodbye’ functions controlling the lighting when entering or leaving the building. In the event of a security or fire alarm activation, pathway lighting is automatically activated.

Philips Dynalite’s sophisticated peer-to-peer communications serial bus network, DyNet, provides the backbone into which the various systems are linked. “The design allows for this network to be expanded at a later date in a loop outside the house to accommodate lighting requirements for a planned pool complex at the rear of the property,” says Morgan. “One of the beauties of the Philips Dynalite solution-set is its flexibility to accommodate future additions and modifications easily into the system design.”

Three universal sensors have been installed in the hallway areas, and have been arranged to provide automatic lighting when movement is detected and ambient light levels are low. This element is a personal favourite of the home-owner. “I love the way the lights come on with movement in these common areas,” he says. “This goes beyond mere convenience. If the children wake up during the night and walk around the house, the lights will come on automatically and safeguard against them tripping up and hurting themselves. It’s a fabulous safety feature.”

Revolution and evolution
A total of 12 Philips Dynalite Revolution 2 wall panels were used throughout the house. “These are white glass with charcoal buttons and are designed for both style and simplicity,” says Morgan. “The top switch is always the ‘on’ button, and the bottom switch is always ‘off’. We wanted this system to be very intuitive to operate for users of all ages and experience. The design provides the perfect minimalist interface to the sophisticated engineering hidden behind the scenes.”

The home-owner is extremely happy with the installation, and considers himself to be a convert to the Philips Dynalite system. “The finished design has not merely matched my vision, but in many cases has exceeded it,” he says. “Compared with previous home automation systems I have had, I can honestly say that Philips Dynalite offer the most capable and competitive solution.

“We have already recommended Philips Dynalite and Morban to our friends and will definitely be using their services and expertise for all our future home automation and lighting needs. This system has been designed to be expanded as our requirements change over time. We look forward to watching the lighting controls and automation capabilities develop as our family grows and our needs evolve.”