HiddenWires explores how automation in Seahorses, Cornwall House, facilitated the project's journey from retirement residence to Million Pound House Draw.
Seahorses emerges into the Falmouth coast much like a castle, embodying resilience with a terraced tower and cutting-edge configurations to boot. Built to replace a bungalow, the house was intended to be a retirement home and, later in the project, part-time holiday let.
However, a lengthy development and changing circumstances saw the client sell the finished project to Omaze, the fundraiser that has delivered millions of pounds for good causes since launching in the UK.
With its luxury pool, glass facades and armoury of smarts, Seahorses has become the proud ownership of an NHS nurse from Merseyside, UK, following her win on the Million Pound House Draw. The campaign raised funds for the RSPB, the UK's largest nature conservation charity, as part of continuous prize draws supporting some of the most loved charities in the UK.
We look at this home on the tip of Cornwall to find out how its automated features won hearts and minds from early enquiry through to successive handovers.
Managing the brief
Moss Technical opened discussions on integration approximately half-way through the seven-year build.
“We became involved after architect Iris Projects made a start on the development, introduced by the intelligent locking specialist responsible for this property’s sliding doors, Ultraline,” says Moss, founder.
“As UK distributor for Niko, we were not only the contact for smart locks but also for enquiries about Niko Home Control in general including lighting, heating, ventilation and shading control.”
The original homeowner, who had a background in company management, was keen on overseeing the project despite a series of knockbacks in the process.
“There were levelling issues, the steel work was in the wrong place and the first builders encountered numerous roof leaks and damp ingress at the plastering stage,” explains Moss. “It felt very much like one step forward, two steps back.
"The biggest challenge for us was navigating an increasingly complicated brief, beginning as a retirement home that would then accommodate holidaymakers when the owners were away. We had to come up with an adaptable solution that restricted access in ‘letting’ mode: inhibited CCTV cameras around the property, electric wardrobe security and remote power control."
The Niko Home Control system is BUS wired to support the flexible requirements of a modern smart home. As cabling was no longer possible, Moss adopted a hybrid solution of Niko wireless Zigbee controls in tandem with the BUS framework to add specialised features, like personalised wardrobe locking.
"Eventually the client moved away from the rental set up, going on to sell and settle elsewhere for his retirement,” says Moss. “We became accustomed to reprogramming the system using different modes when he changed the use of the property.
“As a result, we were able to ensure a seamless technological handover when meeting the new residents who won the Omaze Prize Draw."
Sustainable functionality
Distance operation allowed the integrator to make only a handful of site visits alongside virtual meetings.
“Being based in South Wales, we’re at a distance from this property,” says Moss.“But the tech made it possible for us to monitor system health and adapt the programming remotely, uploading any changes to a full PC on site. If I need feet on the ground, there is a local electrician looking after the property.
“Lockdown really helped with this approach, forcing everyone to embrace technology and drive the industry in a new direction.”
Moss explains that reduced travel provides national opportunities without the expenses to go with it: “It’s reassuring to clients. There are lots of excellent installers in the UK, but there's not necessarily one on the doorstep. We’ve recently taken on projects in Lowestoft, Hereford and Anglesey without stepping foot on site.
“We've only ever met the clients virtually, buildingthe panel off site before shipping it for powering by the electrician. We log in, we programme it, we keep the cost down for our clients.
"Of course many projects do need on site consultation to ensure quality is maintained. But for smaller projects, this isn't always needed; in any case, reducing the number of visits keeps costs efficient."
Interior and garden lighting is operated mostly with preset timings and motion sensors.
“We have occupancy and motion detectors to take a light reading,” adds Moss. “If the light level drops below a certain amount the table lamps will turn on automatically. We can make those motion detectors active only at certain times of night.
“The motion detectors are not like an outside light, where you walk past the motion sensor and a floodlight comes on. The programming ensures that PIR sensors come into play in the evening but only after the aesthetic architectural lighting turns off at 10pm, then security lighting kicks in if movement is detected. This will also activate a sequence of internal lights to indicate someone is moving around inside.
“This flexibility is energy efficient, convenient and offers security benefits, suited to aging in situ.”
Long-term adaptability
The Niko ecosystem automates ventilation, shutters, blinds and energy monitoring in one place, controllable from either a smartphone app or voice command.
Lighting and heating control are accessible via Niko ‘Pure’ wall mounted screens, offering heating adjustment across 12 underfloor zones for optimum comfort.
“We ensured the client could manage other temperature controls too, such as turning the hot tub on or killing power to it when away from the property,” says Moss. “Security like CCTV is standalone, but we have track triggers from Niko to put it into different modes and integrate with HDAnywhere video distribution.
“For a lot of people, smart home is a leap of faith. They've gone from traditional light switches to something with more intelligence, something that facilitates change over time.”
Connectivity
Network providers Netgear and Ubiquity provide fast digital access in and outdoors, whileHDAnywhere centrally distributes SkyQ and CCTV for access to security camera footage.
Meanwhile the Sonos multiroom audio system works with Amina in-wall speakers to deliver discreet audio for both TV and music: built with Trueplay calibration for sound reflection, the Sonos Beam connects with a cinema-grade soundbar, wireless streaming amp and subwoofer for a spatial audio experience.
The Amina Mobius Speaker series also delivers on safety as well as audio performance. The two-stage voltage monitoring processor, with continuous rolling averaging function, protects against power surges to consolidate the acoustically tuned backbox.
A winning location
With a garden next to the South West Coast Path, Seahorses extends its open plan architecture into the surroundings. The Niko ecosystem powers window blinds and an outdoor cooking area, paired with an intelligent sliding door system that delivers big views alongside central locking – an unusual feature for big projects, Moss adds.
Subtle lighting creates a stunning ambience, guided by light levels from its geographic coordinates.
"Locking is integrated intelligently with the intruder and fire alarms systems," says Moss. "This means the house locks automatically when residents leave, and retracts blinds in the event of a fire alarm activation.
"This system supplements the wall controls, touch screens and Niko app for home security control."
Ultraline aims to provide ‘more view, less frame’ with tracking flush to the floor, blurring the boundary between interior and outdoor spaces. The system can handle broad panel sizes of up to 4x3.2m, opening daily living up to sea and sky.
The product of a constantly changing brief, Seahorses turns uncertainty to its advantage with a fully flexible whole home solution. The use of continuously evolving configurations, combined with minimal service costs and user-friendly functionality, provide a guarantee against the inevitable changes on life’s horizon.
Tech Spec
Amina Mobius 5i invisible speakers
External wall mount PIRs
HDAnywhere MHUB Pro 4K video distribution matrix
Mini recessed 30mm PIRs
Netgear 48 port PoE smart switch
Niko code lock access to the main gate and pool house apartment
Niko Digital black touchscreens
Niko HD video entry and gate control
Niko Home Control – lighting, heating, ventilation, shading, gate entry, door locking
Niko Home interactive wall controls, thermostats and 7” main control screens
Niko Home lighting control interactive touch screens, motion and presence detection
Niko Pure white steel wall controls
Prism AV Rack
Sonos Multiroom Audio – Beam, Arc, Amp and Mini Sub
Ubiquiti Unifi6 internal and external wireless access points
Ultraline sliding doors and smart locks