This affluent area in Marbella sees the addition of a new statement residence packed with technology while seamlessly blending in with its natural surroundings. Amy Stoneham takes a look around.
The blank canvas of a new build residence unlocks a wealth of opportunity for an installer to integrate technology into the fabric of a home, creating a seamless experience that combines with modern aesthetics to enhance comfort and general wellbeing.
Integrator, Illusion is well-known for its work on ultra-luxury homes around Spain, working with developers and homeowners to create solutions that are completely tailored to specific needs to bring comfort and luxury to people’s lives.
This project, named ‘Villa Big Daddy’, is no different. Situated in the deluxe district of El Herrojo Alto in Marbella, the house looks like a statement piece from afar, with modern lighting throughout, big windows and an infinity pool complete with a huge microLED screen on the edge. On closer inspection, these features are just a small snippet of what this house has to offer.
Initiating conversations with the developer in 2020, Illusion was involved from the very start. The integrator has worked with the developer, Cogitari Homes, on a series of properties around Spain so they knew how to work together to create the best outcome for future residents.
Victor Periañez, founder and managing director of Illusion, explains that the team were involved from the early stages: “We were involved since the first architectural plans were designed. At this point, we began planning for the installations and electrical set up, ensuring that all possible pre-installations were considered to cater to the future buyer’s needs.”
Experienced in building luxury villas, the developer was well versed in smart home technology. Having worked together on multiple properties in the past, Cogitari Homes were confident in Illusion’s expertise and its commitment to quality which led to them being the obvious choice for technology integration on the ‘Villa Big Daddy’ project.
Being in such an affluent region, it was important that the house matched the high standards of clients in the area. “Cogitari Homes envisioned a project that matched these expectations,” continues Periañez. “The original brief was to create a luxurious, energy-efficient villa that seamlessly blends in with its natural surroundings. The client expected top-tier amenities, including state-of-the-art home technology that would enhance both comfort and sophistication.”
Having built many luxury smart home properties in similar areas, the developer knew exactly what they wanted to achieve with this house, as Periañez recalls: “The client was very clear about their desire to incorporate cutting-edge home automation, high-end audiovisual solutions, and intelligent lighting systems that would elevate the villa’s luxurious design while ensuring ease of use. Our team at Illusion worked closely with them to refine these ideas and translate them into innovative, practical solutions. This collaborative approach allowed us to develop a comprehensive plan that perfectly aligned with their vision for Big Daddy.
“Their familiarity and focus on comfort facilitated the seamless integration of advanced systems that enhance both the luxury and convenience of living in Villa Big Daddy.”
Architecture meets design
Complementing the area and making the most of the stunning views, the villa was designed featuring straight lines and large windows to allow natural light to flood the interior, while enabling the residents to enjoy the panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
As well as the usual rooms you would expect, this villa also includes an indoor pool and spa for ultimate relaxation, a fully packed gym, and a multipurpose room for leisure that can be used as a media room, games room and bar.
Working from the ground up, the integrator was able to incorporate technology in the most ideal places while complementing the interior décor and aesthetic of the property. “Villa Big Daddy was a new build development, which streamlined our process,” Periañez emphasises. “This allowed us to design and integrate our technology from the ground up, working closely with architects and contractors to ensure our systems were seamlessly incorporated into the villa’s design from the early stages.”
While the brief clearly stated the desired outcome, Illusion worked with the client to choose the specific technology that would best fit the design and purpose of the villa, keeping in mind that the property is for future residents rather than the developer.
“We provided a curated range of options, detailing the benefits of each,” defines Periañez. “In our Experience Centre, we showcased various set ups to help the developer make informed decisions. The Experience Centre plays a crucial role in the decision-making process, allowing clients to see and interact with different technologies firsthand. This immersive experience helps clients to visualise how each system would function in their home, providing clarity and confidence in their choices.
“Together, we refined the selections to create a system that perfectly balanced luxury, functionality and user-friendliness for future residents.”
Smart & integrated
Ensuring that the technology would be user-friendly while blending in seamlessly with the décor and aesthetics, Lutron was chosen to facilitate the overall control of the property.
“The system we implemented in Villa Big Daddy functions as a cohesive whole-home solution,” states Periañez. “All components, from lighting and climate control to audiovisual systems, are interconnected through Lutron as a central platform. For instance, a single command can adjust lighting, temperature, and entertainment systems to create the perfect ambiance for different scenarios. The result is a smart home where all elements work in harmony, providing residents with intuitive control over their entire living environment.”
As well as giving users full functionality of every element of their home, Lutron is customisable and attractive to complement ‘Villa Big Daddy’. Fitting in with the overall aesthetic of ‘Villa Big Daddy’, Lutron’s backlit button panels with personalised engravings were an obvious choice to complete the overall aesthetic. They feature a luminescence sensor which adapts the intensity of the texts and symbols according to its environment.
“We provide systems that can be controlled by intuitive and elegant keypads in each area,” Periañez continues. “We trust in brands like Lutron, known for their simplicity and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring that all users, regardless of technical proficiency, can effortlessly interact with the technology.”
With comfort being a key part of the brief, lighting was an important consideration. Delta Light was selected for the main areas of the property to create lighting that is both attractive and comfortable, while also being fully controllable by the Lutron system.
The lighting throughout is very much a distinct feature of the property, giving it a high-end, luxury feel that is very much in line with being human centric to enhance the comfort and sense of wellbeing that the client wanted to achieve. Indirect lighting is used in the outside spaces to enhance the minimalist forms and avant-garde feel of this villa.
Airzone provides the climate control throughout the property. It works as part of the control system to ensure the villa is always the perfect temperature for ultimate comfort.
For access control and security, 2N was chosen. Again, working together as a whole system, the residents have full control of access to the property, keeping the villa safe and secure.
“The house features a customised access control system that allows the owner to grant access to multiple people, ensuring total control over who can enter,” says Periañez. “The lighting control system for both natural and artificial light, is equipped with passwords that can be provided to select individuals for access. Additionally, there is a guest Wi-Fi network available for visitors.”
Elements of audiovisual entertainment are obvious throughout the property with LG 4K TVs installed in the living area and the multipurpose room. Throughout the villa, there are in-ceiling speakers to provide music, which has been paired with a Sonos AMP Amplifier.
“The technology offers simple control and a wide range of entertaining options,” says Periañez. “Combined with our lighting design, users can easily adjust the atmosphere to suit their needs, enhancing their overall living experience.”
Unique
One of the most eye-catching elements of this property is the infinity pool on the outdoor terrace which includes a huge modular micoLED screen from Traulux which can be carefully concealed when not in use thanks to a hydraulic arm that raises and lowers the screen.
“One of the standout features we installed is a state-of-the-art microLED screen in the outdoor area, strategically positioned just beyond the infinity pool’s waterfall,” says Periañez. “This impressive screen, measuring 3.5 by two metres, is fully weatherproof and is engineered to withstand outdoor conditions. Its integrated luminescence sensor automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness according to the time of day and conditions, ensuring optimal viewing in any light.”
The LED panels that make up the display paired with James Loudspeaker Outdoor Loudspeakers creates an immersive experience. It features highly efficient heat-dissipating technology in addition to allowing significant energy savings to contribute to extending the life of the device.
Designed for use outdoors, the robust system is designed to withstand different temperatures, humidity and dust, ensuring no impact on the performance. The system also features a clever wind sensor which will hide the screen away if it detects adverse weather situations for safety reasons.
Periañez continues: “This versatile display enables residents and guests to enjoy movies, sports events, or their favourite content while relaxing by the pool or entertaining outdoors. It exemplifies how our technology seamlessly blends luxury with functionality, extending entertainment possibilities beyond the villa’s interior and into its stunning outdoor spaces.”
The outdoor screen was suggested as an upgrade from the original brief, as Periañez explains: “We proposed the installation of an outdoor screen, a feature we were eager to implement. This solution became one of the key selling points of the house, significantly increasing its value. The new homeowners have reported that it’s a feature they use regularly and greatly enjoy.”
Another unique and highly attractive aspect is the feature wallpaper in the multipurpose room, provided by a brand called Glamora. Shaped as a female’s head, it includes skyscrapers with fibre optic lighting mimicking the lighting in the buildings.
“Creating a magical effect, the wallpaper was applied over a plasterboard panel where we made precisely sized holes at specific points to pass the fibre optic cables to achieve the desired effect,” Periañez illustrates.
This presented unique challenges that the integrator hadn’t come across before. “One of the challenges we encountered was the installation of the fibre optic lighting,” he continues. “This process was particularly difficult due to the manual nature of the work, which required great precision and delicacy. There was no margin for error as the lighting was integrated into decorative wallpaper. To address this, we ensured that our team worked meticulously and with a high level of craftsmanship to achieve the desired effect without compromising the integrity of the wallpaper.”
End results & new beginnings
Once the project was completed and handed over to the developer at the end of 2022, the villa was then sold to a young married couple who are currently enjoying the property and its technology.
Following the sale, Illusion gave the new owners a full walkthrough of the system and added personal touches. Periañez states: “When we hand over the property, we don’t just step away; we offer post-sale support and conduct detailed walkthroughs to explain the functionalities of the house to the final owners. Additionally, we personalise the lighting scenes to meet the specific needs of the homeowners.
“With the post-sale support, our after-sales team includes dedicated technicians who do regular check ups to keep everything running smoothly and update systems when needed. We aim to stay ahead of issues, ensuring the villa’s technology remains cutting-edge and easy to use for the residents.”
The new residents are now keen to add their own personal touches to the property and have since visited Illusion’s Experience Centre to experience some of the extra possibilities. Illusion is working with them and are now planning to add new features such as extra sound equipment and curtains in the near future.
Kit List
2N Indoor View
2N IP Verso Main Outdoor Unit with Camera
2N IP Verso Touch Keypad and RFID Reader Module
4-Series Control System CP4 (Outdoor TV)
Airzone Acuazone System Climate Control Unit 32Z
Airzone Cloud Dual 2.4-5G/Ethernet Lutron Webserver Hub
Airzone Blueface Zero Thermostat
Apple TV 4K
Bowers & Wilkins Marine 6 White In-Ceiling Speakers
Cabinet JFIX 3.9 Out F/T 5000Nits HR 50x100
Delta Lighting
Glamora Fibre Optic Wallpaper
Hydronic Control Unit
iPad 10.2” 64GB Wi-Fi Plata (9ª Gen)
iPort LuxePort Wall Station
James Loudspeaker OT66Q-4 Outdoor Loudspeakers
LG NanoCell 4K Smart 75” TV
Lutron CONNECT-BDG2-3 Connect Bridge
Lutron HWQS HQP6-2 Processor
Lutron QSE-CI-DMX Interface DMX Module
Lutron QSE-IO Contact Closure Interface
Motorised LED Screen Structure
Novastar LED Processor with Scaler
Palladiom Keypad Lighting Control
Sonance VP62R Round In-Ceiling Speakers
Sonance VP62R SST/SUR In-Ceiling Speakers
Sonos AMP Amplifer
TSR-310 Crestron Wireless Control Touchscreen Remote
Ubiquiti High-Speed Wireless Access Point
Ubiquiti Wi-Fi 6 LR Access Point