A PGA Tour icon, and a Ryder Cup mainstay, golfer Lee Westwood recently deployed an extensive entertainment and control system anchored by ELAN in his new home in Newcastle, UK.
One of a handful of golfers to have won tournaments across five continents, British golfer Lee Westwood was on the hunt for a high quality system suited to playing music and a films when unwinding in his new home in the northeast of England.
Plans were fairly simple at the start of the project, yet on discovering the potential of a wider system from Graeme Henderson, director at Hidden Home Cinema, the home now boasts a no-fuss, whole-home entertainment system controlled via ELAN. “The initial specification of the project was to simply install a television and some speakers into the cinema room, but over a period of a few months, we began adding in other audio and video solutions to heighten the experience,” said Henderson.
“The initial specification of the project was to simply install a television and some speakers into the cinema room, but we decided to heighten the experience.”
He added: “As the scope grew, I knew that a control system, and ELAN in particular, would help to integrate all of the technology into one easy app.” Originally commissioned to install a “future-proofed wiring infrastructure,” as the scope of the project changed throughout the build process, wiring would become essential for the backbone of the system.
As Henderson had little experience with ELAN technology, he called upon Indigo Distribution to support him with design and planning of the project. After discussing at-length what Westwood was looking for from the new technology for his home, Henderson specified an ELAN gSC2 system controller accessible through eight ELAN HR200 remotes. Critically for Westwood, the system can also be controlled via the ELAN Mobile app on Westwood’s personal Apple iPad when he is travelling the world for golf events.
The house features two zones of audio – one in the kitchen and another in the cinema room which benefits from a surround sound 7.1 system. “Lee was looking for a simple yet sophisticated audio system that would integrate with popular streaming services like Spotify and Pandora. And that’s precisely what we were able to deliver,” stated Henderson. “Now, he can play any song from any streaming service instantly.”
The home’s video system is controlled by an 8x8 matrix with 4K functionality, which enabled the addition of a 4K satellite receiver, a 4K Blu-ray Disc player, and an Xbox. “We installed five satellite receivers to distribute 4K content to eight new televisions throughout the residence,” explained Henderson. “Since the system is integrated with ELAN, Lee can change the channels on any television from a single remote or the smartphone in his pocket. It’s as easy as can be.”
As Westwood travels frequently, Henderson installed a remotely-accessible CCTV security system, with eight IP cameras that incorporate a 4TB NAS drive for recording. The security system is also integrated into the ELAN system allowing him to check footage from anywhere in the world on the ELAN app.
Aside from getting to grips with ELAN technology, working alongside the team of interior designers from Dickinsons Commercial to create a contemporary and relaxing yet technologically-advanced space proved to be a significant task for the team at Hidden Home Cinema.
“Sometimes working to accommodate technology elements in the space could be intimidating, but we were put at ease once Graeme showed us how sleek the system is and how it helps to consolidate all of Lee’s media into one means of control,” said Rachel McCluskey, senior interior designer at Dickinsons Commercial.
According to Indigo Distribution’s managing director, Matthew Booth, feedback from the client has so far been overwhelming positive. “Lee is really satisfied with ELAN and the entertainment system in his new home, and the great thing about ELAN is that it’s always expandable. If he ever wants to add climate, irrigation or security control, he can do so easily.”
Tech-Spec
ELAN gSC2 system controller
ELAN gHR200 remote controls
8x8 Matrix with 4K functionality
4K satellite receiver
4K Blu-ray disc player
IP cameras (with 4tb nas drive for recording) with site license