Swedish integrator Aloud has created a stylish patchwork of culture in this Stockholm apartment, working with a Mexican architect to breathe modern brilliance into a two-century-old building. Layla Laidouci speaks to CEO Dennis Lundell about the unique AV project.
This apartment in central Stockholm defies the limits with an AV design that is global in both outlook and heritage, marrying the client’s interest in art with his family’s Mexican background.
Built as two units in 1861 and since renovated into one address, the property is comprised of uneven ceilings and walls that embody timeworn charm. Aloud came to the project after a lighting design had already been put in place, suggesting a comprehensive control system that would enhance the apartment’s character.
Dennis Lundell, CEO of Aloud, recalls: “Lighting design was already in place, full construction was ongoing and the client didn’t know all the possibilities with custom installation that lay ahead. We embarked on a long journey and brought some creative ideas to the vision. After we took the client to our showroom, he was clear that his existing brief needed some work.”
The finished project centres on accent lighting and specialised fixtures for a soft nostalgic ambience, scooping three wins for Integrated Home Level V, Excellence in Lighting and Excellence in User Experience at the CEDIA EMEA Smart Home Awards 2024, as well as Best HomeWorks Project in the 2024 Lutron Excellence Awards.
Credit: Johan Nilson
Building on the brief
The client had taken inspiration from international high-end hotels, looking to develop a cosy yet luxurious space.
The Aloud team needed to match integrated technology to an existing design framework, as Lundell explains: “We contributed some ideas to this brief. One idea was to completely re-do the lighting design that was in place before we entered the project, focusing on indirect lighting with a custom-made stucco to spotlight paintings with subtlety. Another idea was to listen to music without seeing the tech, integrating invisible speakers in old brick walls, ceilings and custom-made carpentry using Sonance.
“After we made our presentation, the client understood the need for a complete Crestron control system but also saw the benefit of many integrated systems. We started with a preliminary budget for hardware and installation hours, but had to leave a few systems as TBC in the beginning for the possibility to integrate our ideas, hold the budget and not delay the project.”
The next eighteen months saw Aloud work closely with the client’s Mexican architect in an “unusual” collaboration, Lundell adds: “I've never come across a Mexican architect in Sweden before. It was interesting to have on site meetings on Teams and come up with a multi-faceted approach to interior design with select technology and lighting.”
Hitting the perfomance objectives
Lundell ensured that each aspect of the project delivered on the company’s values of adaptability and quality, “from how we act and dress, our documentation, how we install and deliver, to our software and GUI.”
Checks on visible and non-visible technologies prioritised user experience, with the “rigorously tested”graphical interface incorporating Crestron touch panels and iDevice.
The client, a professional in the gaming industry, was clear on the need for HD media in the home that could be operated smoothly. Lundell explains that easy and intuitive control was paramount for the client’s first experience of custom install: “Simply put, the system needs to always work and be easy to handle. We know that system dependability is an important factor to get the client to trust us and we know that the first impression always lasts. It’s important to do everything the right way to make the initial experience as close to perfect as possible.
"It was important to have the right tools in place to be able to support the Crestron system after the project was completed. Real time monitoring of the system and broad availability of upgrades was of the essence.”
Credit: Albin Hag
Subsystems as one
Aloud installed audio and video distribution, climate control, lighting control, video surveillance, alarms and more across the property.
For the speakers, Lundell says the client insisted on a discreet set-up: “We did the audio distribution with Sonance Invisible speakers, using Sonos for audio source as it’s easily scalable. Both kitchen and living room have subwoofers integrated discreetly in the furniture with custom painted grills.”
Bluestream digital audio over CAT extender kits were integrated with the Sonance and Sonos products to extend audio signals to the bedroom, living room and games room without needing specialised audio cabling.
Lundell continues: “The media room has the possibility to join any Sonos group without any delays, thanks to the use of the heavily tested Integra AVR. We used locally placed Apple TV and linear TV that could send the audio back to the AV System for distribution of sound.
“We placed Apple TVs and linear TVs locally as it made most sense for ‘ease of use,’ and it fit the budgetary considerations. We also installed PlayStations both in the media room and living room and we prepared HDMI, power and network for other game consoles in the media room. The client wanted linear TV as a complement to Apple TV and streaming services – for us it was important to make this happen without a TV-box, so we used CI modules with built-in tuners on the TVs instead.”
Regarding integration control, Crestron was “the go-to solution" for the subsystems at work.
Lundell continues: “Using its latest control processor, we set up a successful integration with all other systems: we have a few custom-built modules with Lutron lighting and shades and Ksenia alarm system. We also built brand-new programming to work with the fireplace and Ebeko floor heating system. We use SNMP to get feedback on the communication between the systems, I/Os and relays to control the fireplace and floor heating.
Aloud performed a WiFi Heatmap to determine suitable networking for this busy location, home to other apartments, businesses and a large theatre. Ruckus and WiFi 6 emerged as the “best” offering after the planning and survey phase, seeing the Aloud team communicate with client, architect and interior designer to find discreet placement for APs in the apartment.
Spotlight on art
Aloud not only initiated a complete revamp of pre-existing lighting, but also made it relevant to the client’s art collection. Lundell says: “We found a spotlight that worked in the shallow ceiling and created spaces for driver walls behind cupboards for easy access, keeping future service in mind. For a painting in the kitchen, we used a shaped light fixture called Silhouette that can illuminate the specific area of a painting regardless of shape or size.”
The Aloud team collaborated with a stucco specialist on a custom solution for the client to display larger artwork should they wish. Aloud’s longstanding partnership with this specialist has seen them deliver a range of restoration projects: “We’ve worked together on many projects, especially those that aim to preserve original features. On this occasion, we created several custom-made stuccos made of gypsum, testing the length from the wall and ceiling before using different types of fixtures. We added a built-in track for the movement of small fixtures when needed [so] when the client has a new painting, we’ll be able to move the fixtures and set the right colour temperature and lenses to showcase it.”
Credit: Albin Hag
Lighting
The team were tasked with finding tuneable white spotlights to create seasonal scenes, fitting motion sensors in bathrooms and hallways to change lighting scenes on a pre-set programme following the astronomical clock. Crestron remote control commands coordinate room scenarios with these variables, while the global off light scenario is active when the client notifies the alarm system of their departure from the apartment.
Semi-global scenarios can also be triggered in adjacent rooms such as the hallway and kitchen, operated by the system as one area. KNX originally controlled the lighting design, but has since been removed by Aloud in favour of a Lutron and Crestron only system. The optical play of pendants and wall lights cast an enigmatic glow over paintings, units and furniture. The client’s extensive travel also inspired a specific solution for closet lighting: activation via magnetic contact. The Aloud team placed magnetic contact as close as possible to the closet frame to enable automatic lighting control, regardless of movement or obstacles.
Credit: Johan Nilson
Control
The team were met with a challenge when the AV rack arrived with deviations on site from the planned layout, requiring them to re-build the rack onsite to a hard deadline.
Lundell says the team worked hard to deliver the brief to time limits, for example combining a wired and a wireless system using custom sensors on window frames to make shades user-friendly. The client requested as many controllable shades as possible, however building and timeline dictated otherwise. Aloud paired a motorised sheer roller with manual blackout curtains in the master bedroom, adding automated shading to the living room and office to create dark environments when needed.
Three curtain tracks cover three windows in the living room, with an open and a closed state that can be activated from the Meljac keypad, touch panel, Crestron App and remote control.
Security
The apartment has one main door, re-fitted with a split spindle lock, motorised lock, doorbell button and 2N keypad/tag reader.
Since the property was originally two apartments, the Aloud team installed two fish-eye cameras outside with 92° horizontal fields of vision across the stairwell.
Lundell adds: “Other than magnetic contacts, the complete alarm system was designed using motion sensors, fire alarm and flood detectors. For redundancy purposes, we hid the alarm control panelclose to the entrance in a closet in case there is an issue with the touch panel when disarming the system.”
Crestron monitors the home for activity via sensors and doors, notifying the client if the home is empty. The system communicates with Lutron, Ksenia, Axis Door System and a motorised Future Automation lift in the living room, bringing the TV unit forward in custom-built furniture.
The fire alarm stops all media and triggers the night scenario to provide light everywhere in the apartment, while the burglar alarm ensures that lighting blinks for three minutes until cancellation. The Aloud team have set rules for temperature in the property’s dedicated technical room, notifying Service and Support if the safe level is exceeded.
Throughout the project, feedback and communication remained key to finding new solutions that could be made to work for optimal AV. The integrator met regularly with architect, builder and fireplace-maker to coordinate details like technical spaces and driver positions; TV positioning in the living room was dictated by the fireplace furniture, while the game room saw a similar compromise with speaker placement behind wooden laths.
Lundell concludes: “The success of the project is down to the vast experience of our dedicated team,working closely together to deliver the brief.” The integrator has consolidated a “fantastic relationship” with the client, winning another project from them and speaking their creative vision aloud.
Movie: Aloud
Kit List
2N Access Unit M Control Reader
Apple 4K TVs
Artcoustic Loudspeakers SL Multi Soundbar 1449
Artcoustic SL C-2 Soundbar 1449
Artcoustic SL Series Multi Soundbar
Artcoustic SL Target Loudspeaker
Blustream CAT100AU Audio over CAT5e/6 Extender Kits
Bocci 28 Copper-Custom
Crestron CEN-GWEXER 2-Way RF Wireless Transceiver
Crestron CP4 Control Processor
Crestron HR-310 Wireless Control Handheld Remote
Crestron TSR-310 Touchscreen Handheld Remote
Crestron TSW-1070-W-S Touchscreen Control Panels
Domotz Box Network Monitoring Software
eldoLEDLED Lighting Control Drivers
Extreme Networks X435-8P-4S Ethernet Switches
Fortinet FortiGate 30E Security Appliances
Future Automation PS40 Articulated TV Wall Mount
Future Automation PS4021 Articulated TV Wall Mount
Future Automation SPS1200 Sliding Panel Mechanism
Gude 8210 Remote Power Switch Expert Power Control
Hager EN145 Interface Relay
Hager FP12SN2 Wiring Closet Technology
Integra DRX-3.4 Network A/V Receiver
Karizma Luce Dea Carmenta S Adjustable Down Light
Ksenia Ergo T Security Control Touchscreen Keypad
Ksenia Lares 4 Home Automation App
Ksenia Nanus Poli Wireless Window Magnetic Contacts
Ksenia Nebula Optical Smoke Detectors
Ksenia Radius Sirens
Ksenia Unum Indoor Motion Detectors
Lee Broom Orion Tube Light
Ljusdesign Gizmo LED Spotlights 2200K, 2700K and 3000K
Ljusihus LED-Tapes 18-40K
Lutron HQP7-2 HomeWorks Processor
Lutron LLQSE-2DALUNV-D Universal Power Module
Lutron LQSE-4A5-230-D Phase Adaptive Power Module
Lutron QSE-CI-WCI Wallbox Closure Interface
Lutron QSE-IO Control Interface
Lutron QSPS-10PNL Smart Panel Power Supply
Lutron QSPS-DH-1-75-H Power Supply
Lutron Roller Blackout
Lutron Roller Shade
Lutron Sivoia QS D145 Drapery EDU
Meljac 6-Button Classique Collection
Meljac Shucko Wall Sockets Classique Collection
Middle Atlantic Rack Enclosure
Nintendo Switch
PHOS Eyeconic Recessed Downlights
PHOS Occular Round Downlight
Procella Audio P5/B Loudspeaker
Ruckus ICX7150 48-Port PoE Switch
Ruckus Unleashed R550 Indoor Access Points
Safetron 6500 Motorised Lock
Safetron CU2 Locking Unit
Safetron SL620 Electrical Solenoid Lock
Solar Kopplingsdosa IP65 Junction Box
Sonance BPS8 Subwoofers
Sonance IS10 2-Way Invisible Speaker
Sonance IS8 2-Way Invisible Speakers
Sonance SONAMP DSP 2-150 and DSP 8-130 Amplifiers
Sonance VPBPC6R Bandpass Connector
Sonos One Gen2 Wireless Speakers
Sonos Port Wireless Network Streamers
Sony FWD-65A90J OLED Professional Display
Sony FWD-65X95J LED Professional Display
Sony KD-65AG8 OLED TV
Sony PS5 Consoles
Thermokon RDI Room Motion Sensors