Case studies

Systemline Modular in High-End Bulgarian Residential Resort (29/8/2008)

With its stunning mountain scenery and superb leisure facilities, White Fir Valley in Bansko, Bulgaria, is set to become a leading residential resort in the area. UK custom installer Touch of a Button won the tender against stiff UK and Bulgarian competition to design, supply, deliver and install affordable, high-tech audio and visual solutions at the new resort, including broadband and telephone throughout the complex's apartments, bars and restaurants, conference room, offices, games rooms, reception areas and spas.

White Fir Valley resort in Bansko, Bulgaria.

Requirements

Whilst the size of the installation was a challenge, the real test was to fulfil the needs of a variety of different clientele depending on their usage of the complex, so flexibility was essential. These clientele include owner-occupiers of the apartments that require high-end bespoke solutions; owners who will rent out their hotel rooms, requiring lower cost solutions; and business tenants of the commercial areas that need a robust solution. The common factor behind the technology and a vital part of the brief was to ensure the systems and equipment were so easy to use that any nationality could operate them without any training. Furthermore, the systems needed to be flexible to accommodate future requirements.

Formed in 2004, Touch of a Button's founders boast over ten years experience in managing global technology projects, whilst maintaining the small company ethos of personal client service. The company strictly manages its time, budget and quality by adhering to its proprietary project methodology, procedures and automation tools, all of which impressed White Fir Valley Resort's developers at the tender stage.

Touch of a Button designed and installed comprehensive audio and visual solutions at White Fir Valley resort using an extensive variety of Armour brands including Audica, AudicaPRo, Cinemax, Q Acoustics, Systemline, QED, Aquavision, Epsom, NevoSL, Sonance and ThemeScene.

Challenges

The first port of call was the data and telecoms infrastructure which would make the AV systems possible. And here the first, most pressing challenge arose: there was no infrastructure. In fact, there were no services or suppliers to be found within several miles of the locality by which to connect. The only way round this was to implement a system that uses radio-relay firing services over from a local village.

Touch of a Button also had to familiarise itself with the differences between UK and Bulgarian methods of construction and ensure that either they wouldn't have a negative effect on the AV systems or, where they did, find a suitable and cost-effective solution. The ceiling construction is a prime example. In Bulgaria, ceilings are made from concrete, making the use of in-ceiling speakers impossible. Instead, Armour in-wall speakers were chosen, but this had a knock-on effect on the type of amplifiers, IR pickups and control systems specified.

Dining room with Systemline in-wall speaker..

Solutions and implementation

Installation work started with the wi-fi and structured wiring for the data, telecoms and audio systems throughout the complex. From here, the individual systems were installed.

In the apartments, Armour's Systemline HomeNet enclosures act as a central hub from which all incoming services, including telecommunications, data, radio, TV and Systemline Modular multiroom entertainment, are distributed around the home via CAT5 and coaxial cables. Systemline Modular is a built-in multiroom entertainment system which allows for single or multisource audio and video to be played in up to eight different rooms, although in this instance, 250 apartments have been fitted with Systemline multisource audio only. Residents simply plug in their existing home entertainment equipment into a wall socket and listen to the contents in any chosen room using a remote control or keypad, depending on the level of Systemline package chosen. Touch of a Button allowed for up to six wall fittings per apartment, including an in-wall i-Pod docking station.

The Armour Systemline HomeNet central hub.

For the more discerning apartment owners, bespoke solutions have been supplied to meet individual requirements. These include splash-proof bathroom TVs, Audica home cinema systems and programmable control systems.

Making choices simple

To help home buyers select the option appropriate for them, Armour Home and Touch of a Button produced a brochure detailing the technology solutions available for each apartment, thus allowing the developer's staff to talk with ease on a subject with which they were not familiar. It also provided customers with material that they could take away and consider at their leisure.

Extract from the brochure, introducing the different options available to customers.

Mixing residential and commercial applications

White Fir Valley's leisure facilities , including the bars, restaurants, games rooms and spas, also benefit from Armour AV systems. Touch of a Button installed a high-quality centrally-distributed audio system allowing for independent, zoned control of nearly 200 speakers so that multiple events can occur simultaneously in different areas.

Armour equipment is also in the GB£3M automated conference room that doubles as a high-definition cinema. Touch of a Button provided simple audio and video connectivity (e.g. for a laptop and camcorder) for presenters at a lectern area, and 3m wide high-definition projector system that incorporates Blu-ray Disc.

Conclusion

The complete AV installation at White Fir Valley resort took two years in total to complete and involved up to 27 installers on site at any one time. The result is not just a technologically impressive resort - after all, it's not the technology that the developer is interested in, but a competitive edge in a highly competitive marketplace. It has added a significant perceived value to the units without adding the equivalent amount in cost for the developer.

www.touchofabutton.co.uk
www.armourhe.co.uk