Alexandre Beaudoin Bonotto Blog's: Lofty Automation Goals for Tribeca Household

Thursday, 1 September 2016

Lofty Automation Goals for Tribeca Household

Article courtesy of Remote Technologies Inc.

The owner of a new 3,000-square-foot loft in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan was looking to manage the environment, automate audio and video components, and activate lighting scenes using a control solution that would be as simple as pressing a single button. He and his wife were expecting their first child, so having a convenient means of turning everything on and off as they arrived home carrying their baby was also important.

Simple and Stylish Controls

To help them with their endeavors, they hired Mattera Design, of New York, N.Y. Based on their needs and budget, Mattera chose a home control system from RTI. It was a system that would allow them to control their home environment from their Apple iPads and an RTI KX7 in-wall touchpanel. “Our clients were clear that they wanted an elegant control system solution in keeping with the décor of the loft’s sleek interior,” says Joseph Mattera, owner of Mattera Design, Inc. “We knew the RTI XP8s control processor coupled with the RTiPanel app and KX7 touchpanel would provide comprehensive loft-wide control while complementing the overall décor and modern feel of the loft. Moreover, the RTI solution interfaces perfectly with the lighting and motorized shading systems, as well as with the audio and video gear located throughout the loft. At the end of the day, with a new baby on the way, simplicity and a system-wide on/off control were at the very top of our client’s ‘must have’ list.”

An App that Commands the House Systems

To bring intuitive control and automation to the residence, Mattera Design created an RTiPanel app user interface that graphically represents Lutron RadioRA 2 lighting controls based on selected zones, enabling quick lighting scene adjustments. From the convenience of their iPads, the RTiPanel app provides the loft’s users with incredible power and intuitive control anywhere, anytime. The RTiPanel app also allows for control of the Somfy shading system and the Nest thermostat to create just the right mood and feel in the loft, day or night.

Synched with Sonos … and other Music Players

Joe 4 copy To direct music throughout the space, Mattera Design deployed an RTI AD-4x audio distribution system that works in tandem with Denon receivers in the living room and master bedroom, Sonance and Gallo speakers located throughout the loft, and a KEF subwoofer. The AD-4x contains both a matrix switching pre-amp and a built-in power amplifier to distribute four audio sources, making it easy to listen to music anywhere in the loft. RTI’s Sonos driver enables two-way communication with a Sonos Connect wireless music player to deliver intuitive control including cover art, song selection, and favorites directly within the RTI user interface.

Finally, making overall operation as simplistic and easy to use as possible, RTI’s KX7 in-wall touchpanel allows the client to activate pre-programmed settings instantly for areas in the loft. Lights and shades automatically set, audio components begin playing music, and the appropriate mood is set. Installed near the entrance to the loft, the 7-inch color touchpanel not only integrates with every system in the loft, allowing users to easily control their environment and A/V selections, but also serves as a system-wide on/off switch for when the clients’ hands are filled with their most precious cargo.