I N T E G R AT I O N
Teamwork Makes Tech Dreams Work By Douglas Weinstein
Residential technology is an ever-changing, ever-expanding topic that is close to impossible to keep up with unless you’re a residential technology specialist. The basics alone—networking, energy management, climate control, clean air and water strategies, distributed audio/video, automation, acoustics, intelligent lighting, smart window treatments—are somewhat daunting. The list is long and growing exponentially, but here’s the upside: When done properly, technology enhances your design goals and delivers a heathier, warmer, more inviting living space for your clients. And, as a bonus, no one needs to see, or even think, about the technology behind the walls. With simple keypads and a few scenes, the homeowner enjoys all the convenience and none of the hassle.
To begin, let’s take a step back and look at the big picture when it comes to residential technology. When we talk about infrastructure, we start with the discovery process. What does the homeowner want in their home and how do they anticipate living in the space? Do they want simple keypads with a few scenes that get rid of wall acne (there is no need for banks of light switches anymore) and provide the simplest user experience? Do they want to combine their lighting and automated window treatments together and set up specific scenes so when the lights dim at night, the shades come down to afford more privacy? These are basics that need to be addressed so the homeowner begins to learn what is possible and how elegantly they can experience living in a modern smart home.
PHOTO: IBI DESIGNS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MARC-MICHAELS
Now, the question becomes: How do designers keep up with the latest technology advances and how do homeowners even learn about, much less begin to understand, the need for infrastructure planning and design at the earliest stages of major remodels and new builds? There are numerous opportunities including lunchand-learns from a qualified technology design firm and CEU courses from CEDIA, the trade organization that represents residential technology specialists.
Infrastructure
34 JULY + AUGUST 2023 | wf-vision.com