Architects Plant the Seed of Inspiration
What role do architects play in the smart home industry? They are the first ones in front of owners when it comes to putting their ideas and dreams into reality. Because of this coveted placement, they are perfectly positioned to start the conversation about home automation possibilities. Although there are an array of features to discuss, architects can start incorporating specific components in their plans to make integration smoother down the line.
Integrated shade pockets
Especially for hard-to-reach windows, automated shades are almost a necessity for luxury homes. Designing a pocket above windows to discretely tuck shades away creates an almost magical experience. The same goes for drapes, blinds, or layered applications like the one below:
Centralized lighting plans
A centralized, or panelized, lighting layout not only saves labor and material costs during installation, it gives the client whole-home lighting control from any keypad. Instead of wiring each set of lights directly to a switch, all fixtures are wired to a central panel which can then control any light in the home. Designing for this lighting method, and displaying it on the wiring plans, from the start ensures everyone is on the same page.
Mechanical room layout
If you know a client is interested in smart home features, leave space in the mechanical room for the equipment. The same way you would for a water heater or furnace, mark out a space for the automation rack to go that will allow for both easy access and a tucked-away location.
At the end of the day, we all want to be sure our clients are receiving the best value possible. Bringing in a home automation firm early not only does that that, it also saves time and takes one more thing off the architect’s plate. The best thing an architect can do is start the conversation.
Are you an architect with home automation questions? We’re happy to answer them!
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