Home Theatre – Luxury Home Auckland, NZ, Excellence in Rack Building & Design winner, APAC 2024

In the landscape of Auckland, New Zealand, an extraordinary convergence of technology and design has emerged, captivating the senses and elevating the home cinema experience to unprecedented levels. This space is not just for watching films but an immersive sanctuary where sight and sound harmoniously intertwine, creating an unparalleled sensory journey. The mastermind behind this marvel is Liquid Automation, a name synonymous with innovation and excellence in the realm of home automation. Their creation is a vivid demonstration of their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what a home theatre can be.

The project began with a client's vision of an immersive space that delivers top-notch video and audio quality. This vision presented several challenges that Liquid Automation needed to address with precision and creativity. The restriction against projection systems led them to explore alternatives, and they found their answer in Samsung’s ‘The Wall’. This high-quality video wall, renowned for its exceptional quality and feature set, became the centrepiece of the visual experience. However, the journey didn’t end with the selection of this cutting-edge display.

The spatial dimensions of the room, particularly the limited space beside and above the screen, posed significant audio challenges. Traditional speaker placement was not feasible, necessitating innovative solutions. Liquid Automation ingeniously split the centre channel into two separate speakers positioned above and below the screen, enhancing the front side channels. This complex audio arrangement required the powerful processing capabilities of the Trinnov surround sound processor, ensuring seamless integration and unparalleled audio clarity.

Addressing acoustic considerations was another critical aspect of the project. The close proximity of the screen to the speakers and side walls created the potential for acoustic reflections, which could detract from the overall sound quality. To combat this, Liquid Automation chose the Kvadrat Softcell solution. These panels offer a variety of sound treatments — absorption, reflection, or transparency for the speakers — allowing for a customised acoustic environment. Collaborating closely with the architects, they meticulously tested different fabrics to find the optimal solution for sound transmission. Using a frequency meter, they conducted thorough tests, ultimately selecting a fabric that provided the widest frequency range.

Beyond the confines of the home theatre, a bedroom above the room necessitated additional acoustic measures. Liquid Automation implemented an isolated floating grid with rubber mounts and multiple layers of acoustic treatment, ensuring that sound from the theatre did not disrupt the tranquillity of the sleeping quarters above.

Customisation was key to meeting the client's specific preferences for the design and functionality of the audio-visual system. This included personalised control interfaces and tailored audio-visual configurations, reflecting the client's vision for the space. Anticipating future needs, the system was designed with scalability and future-proofing in mind. By selecting components and technologies capable of accommodating future upgrades and advancements, Liquid Automation ensured the long-term viability and performance of the system.

The project required close collaboration among the client, design engineers, and the installation team. Each member brought their expertise to the table, ensuring that every detail was meticulously planned and executed. The builder, Boyd Cox Construction, played a pivotal role in bringing the physical space to life.

With its innovative design solutions and meticulous attention to detail, Liquid Automation has not just created a space for entertainment but a masterpiece that reshapes the experience of home cinema. As we step into this room, we enter a world where each element is crafted not just for function but for extraordinary sensory engagement, showcasing the future of home entertainment in its most elegant form.