Integrator AKTIVA, based in Guatemala, has transformed this open riverside residence into an eco-friendly smart home with natural lighting and energy in every zone. Layla Laidouci takes a look.
A stylish family residence rising out of leafy tropical forest, this villa is both home and idyll atop the Rio Dulce River in Guatemala. Interior design spills into outdoor entertainment rooms and waterside decking, now illuminated by subtle lighting after the homeowner approached integrator AKTIVA for a versatile solution. AKTIVA stepped in to provide centralised lights, network, audio, video and shades suitable for family use, combining practical applications with a natural aesthetic. The project won a 2024 CEDIA Smart Home Award in the Excellence in Lighting category for its innovative lighting design.
Client objectives
AKTIVA became involved in the project after a conversation with the client to determine the scale of the integration. Juan Diego Diaz, director of residential projects at AKTIVA, recalls: “The client wanted every room to shine, making it cosy, functional and stylish. We maintained contact with the customer in the whole process. We had an initial chat to learn and understand what the customer was looking for and how they would use all the spaces.”
The client was clear on their requirement for compatibility with existing features in the home. Diaz continues: “We had to evaluate the layout and architecture of the house, considering factors such as room size, natural light sources, architectural features and furniture placement. This helped us determine the type and placement of lighting fixtures.”
The property’s fresh architecture and design guided the vision, incorporating “lots of wood, natural feeling and open spaces.” Diaz explained: “The house is a modern, spacious residence with an open floor plan, featuring large windows that allow ample natural light to filter in during the day. It comprises multiple rooms including living areas, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and more… The house is located at the shore of a big river and it has great views.”
Integrating lighting with other subsystems
Placement proved important; the lighting control system was designed and located in strategic locations throughout the property to consider maximum efficiency. Diaz says: “Thoughtful placement of lighting fixtures can minimise the need for excessive lighting while ensuring adequate illumination where needed. By considering factors such as room layout, furniture arrangement and task requirements, designers can achieve optimal lighting levels with fewer fixtures, reducing overall energy consumption.”
Based on the requirements of the client, AKTIVA used a Savant control system with Lutron lighting to create scenes, integrating natural optics with blinds and media displays. Diaz says: “There are always some challenges in the design of lighting in a house, this includes the different amount of natural light received in each different area, as well as the position of the lighting fixture in relation to the position of the furniture in the house.”
Lighting benefited from smart controls such as “dimmers, timers, motion sensors and programmable switches” to manage energy efficiency in a family-friendly way. AKTIVA used Lutron Occupancy sensor switches in the smart home service area. Diaz explains: “Motion sensors can automatically turn lights on and off in rooms when they are occupied or vacant, reducing unnecessary energy consumption. Timers and programmable switches enable users to schedule lighting based on their daily routines, optimising energy usage.”
A motion sensor triggers the welcome home lighting, which illuminates the social areas of the house, with each room having its own scenes triggered depending on the time of day it’s been occupied. Diaz adds: “The ability to use the keypads with easy-to-use actions, like the ability to turn off the whole house from the master bedroom, allowed scheduled scenes for the exterior lighting fixtures so they would turn on by sunset.” AKTIVA ensured the creation of “easy scenarios for the guests and other family members so they could use the house in a seamless way.”
Sustainability and energy efficiency
Personalisation not only satisfied the client’s desire for a system that suited their preferences and lifestyle, but also delivered on sustainability goals. The client required energy efficiency in the home, achieved by motion sensors and scheduling systems alongside smart thermostats for temperature control. Diaz says: “Zoning and scene control systems allow homeowners to customise lighting settings for different areas of the home and various activities. By creating lighting scenes tailored to specific needs such as reading, entertaining or relaxation, users can avoid over lighting and optimise energy usage based on the task at hand. By incorporating these principles into the lighting design of a home, designers and homeowners can significantly reduce energy consumption, lower utility costs and minimise environmental impact while still providing comfortable and visually appealing illumination.”
Furthermore, LED lighting fixtures “consume significantly less energy compared to traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs,” converting “a higher percentage of electrical energy into light rather than heat.” Diaz also underlines the importance of integrated home automation in this concept: “Integrating lighting control systems with broader home automation platforms enables centralised management and optimisation of energy usage across multiple systems, including HVAC, security and appliances.”
Integrated home automation
User-friendly application shaped the efficiency set up, employing intuitive interfaces and controls synced with prompt support like technical assistance, troubleshooting and ongoing maintenance. This ensured all aspects of the smart home, whether lighting levels, music control or security management, were fully integrated, functional and reliable. AKTIVA selected a range of Sonance products to power audio in the property’s all-important social areas: Sonance Sub 10-inch 150W Cabinet Subwoofers supported a Speakercraft 2-way In-Ceiling Speaker in the living room, while also catering to the outdoor grill, dining room, terrace living room, jacuzzi and pool with the garden Landscape series LS68SAT accompanied by Round Surface Mount.
Longevity remained a priority for both client and integrator. Diaz maintains: “Customers appreciate systems that accommodate future expansions or upgrades. We assured the client their investment in automation technology will remain relevant and adaptable as their needs evolve over time.”
The installation included linear LED HG density ribbon lights in warm white for the bathrooms and kitchen, as well as RISE F080 low output floodlights, multi-fixture surface mount tenon plate and landscape stakes for the garden. GRID power systems for the outdoor social zones spanned Zyxel Business Wireless Powered AP with PoE and ARUBA Aruba Outdoor Wireless Access Point, dual radio with integrated omni antennas.
With its wooden facades, immersive windows and new smart capabilities, the villa represents AKTIVA’s vision of ‘more human technology’ that quite literally pushes the boundaries. A reimagining of the natural world, this integrated property now provides eco-friendly daily living to make design and nature truly as one.
Tech-Spec
Aruba 270 Series Outdoor Access Points Mount Kit
Aruba Outdoor Wireless Access Points
Integra DRX 2.1 7.2-Channnel Network AV Receiver
Integra DRX5 7.2-Channel Dolby Atmos & DTS:X AV Receiver
Lutron 10-Button Keypads
Lutron Dual Technology In-Ceiling Motion Sensors
Lutron HomeWorks Module Interfaces
Lutron HomeWorks QS Processor
Lutron HomeWorks Remote Power Modules
Lutron Hybrid Wired/Wireless RF System Repeater
Lutron Occupancy Sensor Switches
Lutron Wired SeeTouch Keypads
Middle Atlantic Power Strips
Middle Atlantic Rack Enclosure
Origin Acoustics Seasons Landscape Speakers
Origin Acoustics Seasons Landscape Surface Mounts
Panamax Hybrid Rackmount UPS & Power Conditioners
Panamax Pro Series Programmable Power Managements
QSC 4-Channel Amplifiers
Samsung Ultra-HD Smart Blu-ray & DVD Players
Savant iPad Docks
Savant Pro Audio 4
Savant Pro Remotes
Savant Smart Audio
Savant 5.5-inch In-Wall Touchscreens
Sonance Landscape Series Satellite Speakers
Sonance Round Surface Mount Speakers
Sonance SUB 10-inch 150W Cabinet Subwoofers
SpeakerCraft Two-Way In-Ceiling Speakers
Sonance In-Ceiling Speakers
Zyxel 24-Port Smart Managed Gigabit PoE Switch
Zyxel Active PoE Switches
Zyxel Unified Security Gateway