IO House

The owner was a tech enthusiast and had high expectations for his contemporary home designed with his young family in mind.

Security of the property and its occupants was a priority. The comprehensive solution includes perimeter and internal intruder detection, 4K CCTV and monitoring system, and customised external door access using facial recognition technology. An “airlock” system means that if the external gate is open, neither the garage nor front door will open; to prevent someone being followed into the property. 

The house features numerous, innovative, bespoke systems. An interactive staircase plays music and lights up, when in use. Different moods, colours, and effects can be selected including “playing the piano”. This required the integration of lighting within the stair treads along with a significant, complex arrangement of cabling and sensors.

A remarkable passenger lift provides an immersive “ride experience” achieved through screens on all six faces displaying motion-based video content fed from an IP-connected local player. The integrator was required to calculate the heat load and weight of all the equipment needed and drop test it for safety.

An indoor slide with integral DMX-controlled lighting and audio, fed by the central AV distribution system, is triggered by motion. The guest powder room contains programmable LED twinkly lights which can display any design, created on the owner’s phone for theatrical effect.

A Crestron control system, with a bespoke user interface, simplifies control of everything from lighting, window treatments and HVAC to AV, security, and access.