MAYFAIR MEWS

One of our regular construction clients came to us to discuss the redevelopment of this wonderful Mews house in the Mayfair Conservation Area, which had not undergone a substantial update since the 1960s. KNX was chosen, using GIRA keypads in Aluminium Brown to complement the interior finishes, with a glass black G1 touch screen on each floor for overall building control, door entry and intercom. Externally an elegant stainless entry panel was inset into the stonework.
The interior design vision for the entrance hallway meant that there was no space for a light switch within reach of the front door. We chose to install a discrete Basalte Auro sensor, which activates a ‘welcome home’ function when someone enters the property. This activates a day or night lighting scene (depending on time of day), in the hallway, reception room, and lower ground floor landing and activates ‘comfort’ mode on the heating and air-conditioning, to give a stable defined temperature. When leaving the property, an ‘away’ button on the nearest keypad sequences the switching off of lights, so that you are not left in the dark walking through the hallway to the front door. Control of all functions is also available on the supplied iPad, or any iOS/Android device.

Lighting is a combination of DALI, mains dimming and 0-10v. KNX is also controlling air conditioning, MHRV, boiler, manifolds, towel rails and mirror demisters. Curtains in the master suite and the sun room roof light are also controlled using KNX, doing away with additional wall switches or remote controls. Careful co-ordination of a tight services area led to an offset installation of two Future Automation enclosures to house most KNX hardware. A hard-wired and wireless network infrastructure is future ready to handle the purchaser’s internet and video distribution needs. Audio & Visual control is taken care of by Control4, with an installation for the purchaser to enjoy from day one while giving expansion possibilities to suite their requirements. Highlights include invisible Amina speakers in the walls and ceilings on the ground and lower ground floor, a flush mounted mirror TV in the master suite and a cleverly concealed AV hub on the top floor.
The result discretely integrates leading-edge technology into the ‘Classic with eclectic twist’ concept of the interior designer in this quiet corner of Mayfair.