Space is a huge requirement in most homes and commercial spaces, and architecture is completely defined by use of space. Take a look at these 5 Home Automation devices architects should know about.
- Powerpipe Subwoofers
Space is a huge requirement in most homes and commercial spaces, and architecture is completely defined by use of space. What if you did not have to leave a big ugly box in the room which gives out that thump when your client decides to listen to music or watch movies? What if there was a way to hide in a wardrobe, storage room or any nearby room which has space, but still get the same low frequency response the client cannot do without? Have a look at Powerpipe Subwoofers by James Loudspeaker. These amazing subs come in many different sizes and allow the actual woofer to be placed in a room or location other then where you actually need the bass. A pipe attached to the bass module and extends out using a louvered grill at the end of it to pass bass through the pipe and deliver it nto the required space. I know concerns may arise about losing out on low frequencies. But after several installations of these in several of our projects, we can assure you the frequency response goes down all the way to 30Hz if required and you still feel the thump right in our chest when movie scene or song calls for it.
- Small Aperture Speakers
Keeping with the trend of great audio which does not need to be seen to be heard, have a look, or better yet, take a listen to the Small Aperture Series speakers by James Loudspeaker. To give an idea of why these speakers stand our versus a variety of other in-wall or in-ceiling option is to really understand how well designed these speakers are. James has divided the subwoofer section to be completely concealed inside the wall or ceiling. A small driver which delivers the mid and high ranges is easily attached to the subwoofer module. The beauty of this driver is that it is only 3 inches in diameter and fits directly into the subwoofer module. The subwoofer module gets completely covered inside the ceiling or the wall, leaving only the 3 inch driver visible. James has several trim kits it offers to cover the 3 inch driver to make it blend seamlessly with your environment. They have wooden or sheetrock trim kits, round or square, allowing for a look to match light fitting in the ceiling, wooden furniture and much more. We know completely concealing your speaker like this makes you think the sound is going to deteriorate. We have worked with many invisible speaker brands in the past as well who definitely have a significant drop off in quality when completely concealing the speaker. With James, however, a full spectrum and soundstage is delivered with ease through these speakers and certain models can even deliver into low frequencies down to 38hz.
- Ubiquiti Micro Security Cameras
Surveillance is extremely important to most clients we have worked with. The problem we find fitting cameras into the architectural design is the sheer bulk and ugliness of those round dome cameras. Go with something smaller and you lose on picture clarity. One of the 5 smart home automation devices architects need to know about is the Ubiquiti Micro Security Cameras. Ubiquiti has provided an amazing new lineup of cameras which are small and compact but deliver Full HD 1080P Picture Quality. They work through the WiFi so they do not require any wiring except for power near the camera and have an easy to set up app which allows you to view your cameras no matter where you are in the world. One of my favourite features is the 2-Way Audio. Listen for audio or even say something through the camera to anyone who might be listening.
- Draper Orbiter Projector Lift
The Draper Orbiter is an exciting way to conceal projectors so they are not visible when not in use. With space so limited, a lot of clients are choosing to put projectors in multi-purpose rooms or living rooms so they can watch on a big screen when required. But the Projector can be quite an eye soar when not in use. With the Draper Orbiter, the projector can rotate 180 degrees and flip into the ceiling when not in use. When it needs to be watched, it rotates 180 degrees again and is mounted back at the perfect location to give you the same aligned image as always. Depth in your ceiling is a must for using this product though. We recommend scoping for a minimum of 16 inches in depth when planning to use this lift. Take a look at this hidden home theater in a Byculla apartment.
- Screen Innovations Zero-G Levitating Projection Screen
Projection Screens are amazing! Watch a High Definition Image and there is no limit on size. With 4K Projectors and Ambient Light Rejecting Screens, you can even start enjoying the entire setup with lighting enabled in the room. But what we don’t like are the amount of extra space the screen fabric takes up when we have to mount them high and use an extra drop. Most of the time we are going to be using a screen which requires extra drop because we want it to conceal into the ceiling when not in use. But that extra drop takes up so much space and is not relevant to your image. Well Screen Innovations has launched a great solution for this. The last home Automation device architects need to know about is the Screen Innovations Zero G projection screen. It actually comes down to the exact position required for the projection image and rolls out into the exact size required for your image. It levitates in air using two strings from the main case and all that extra drop is no longer a factor
at all. You only have to look at the actual image size you are going to be watching! If you’re still not sure which project is right for you, take a look at these tips to help you make the right choice.
