12 NEW BUILDS & DEVELOPMENTS


MY PROPERTY, MY HOME 29 JULY 2018


A taste of tech


High-tech homes are no longer the stuff of dreams, but a reality for savvy buyers, as Ray Clancy discovers


I


magine ordering a coffee when you’re on your way home and it being ready when you arrive, or having a meal waiting in the


oven, your favourite music playing, mood lighting on. As more and more developers and designers


incorporate the latest smart technology into new homes, these things are no longer the stuff of dreams. A lot of houses already have a smart TV, and many have sound systems and even controlled lighting, but the future is a home that is smart on the outside as well as the inside. A number of developers are leading the way


in central London and experts believe that a fully automated smart home will become the norm for new builds — not just because the technology exists, but because it’s what people want. Recent research by Coldwell Banker found


that home buyers are most attracted by smart security and temperature control, with 58% saying they would buy a home with the latest high-tech security and 56% keen to have con- trolled heating and cooling. Separate research from Barclays Mortgages


found that home owners really want technol- ogies that will save time and money — cutting the cost of utility bills is one of the biggest in- centives to buy a smart home. Until recently, many of the smart systems


have only been available to put in existing homes or in very high-end properties, but now that’s all changing. The technology is becom- ing mainstream and developers are embrac- ing the opportunities. Developer Lendlease has announced what


it describes as ‘world class efficiency’ for its Futurehome at Elephant Park project in Elephant & Castle, central London. The 15 Victorian inspired town houses will use a low energy construction standard developed in Germany; the Passivhaus Institute certifica- tion scheme. The homes will maintain a consistent,


comfortable temperature throughout, all year round, using an advanced air tightness and heat recovery system. This technology also eliminates problems of draughts, colds spots, condensation and damp. They will also have a constant supply of


clean, fresh air with an advanced filtration system removing pollen, dust and smoke for significantly improved air quality. Integrated Siemens IQ appliances in the kitchens, mean- while, combine style with low energy require- ments, enabling residents to reduce energy usage and high quality insulation and triple glazed windows significantly limit noise from outside. Prices start from £1,495k.


SMALL BUDGETS? NO PROBLEM But there are also smart home options for those with a smaller budget or looking for a buy to let opportunity. Micro apartments be- ing built in Clapham will incorporate smart technology as part of a redevelopment of a 1930s office building, with prices starting at £425k and aimed at first-time buyers. The 30 one-bedroom homes range from 30sq me- tres to 45sq metres and eleven two-bedrooms from 45 to 60sq metres.


CORNFLAKE APARTMENT


FUTUREHOME AT ELEPHANT PARK BY LENDLEASE


A lot of houses already have a smart TV, and many have sound systems and even controlled lighting, but the future is a home that is smart on the outside as well as the inside


“Our micro-apartments at Abbeville Road


will be high spec, high tech homes that are considerably more affordable because they are smaller,” said Martin Skinner, chief exec- utive of Inspired Homes, which has just an- nounced the development. ‘Technology optimises the use of space


while giving our young, professional buyers modern conveniences to support their life- style. We’re not into expensive gimmicks, just tech that people use and don’t have to pay through the nose for,” added Skinner. Heating and lighting control will be fully


automated using a communal heating system which heats water quickly even if it has been switched off all day. The controls will allow residents to adapt thermostats to their own personal needs. The apartments will also have Hyperoptic,


currently the UK’s fastest fibre connection, as well as Sonos home sound system with ceiling


speakers installed. Smart phones can connect to the system, allowing streaming directly from Spotify or SoundCloud. Cornflake, a design company that has its


own show smart apartment in London where home owners can check out the latest tech- nology. The design manager Mark Withers explained that the latest Geofencing technol- ogies provide the intelligence to know when you’re heading home, then to automate the lights in your house when it senses you ap- proaching a quarter of a mile away.


CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY Smart technology can work well for apartment blocks, according to property management platform AskPorter, a multi-channel com- munications platform with an artificial intel- ligence (AI) digital assistant that serves as a property concierge for tenants and residents living in cutting edge new developments.


FUTUREHOME AT ELEPHANT PARK BY LENDLEASE “New technology, like Artificial


Intelligence, will undoubtedly play an in- creasing role in people’s lives, particularly in property. Our mission is to leverage AI to deliver a really compelling tenant and resi- dent experience. Our goal is to totally trans- form the customer experience in this indus- try,” said Tom Shrive, chief executive officer of AskPorter. Looking ahead, it’s expected that more


and more developers will offer smart homes. Housing giant Laing Homes has signed a partnership agreement with technolo- gy solution specialist Info-Line to ensure its new developments meet the needs of future residents. Prototypes of high technology smart homes


are being built by developers with the aim of not only making them cutting-edge, but also being able to build them more quickly and sustainably. These will have delivery drone landing


pads, front door facial recognition technol- ogy, robot vacuum cleaners and interactive bathroom mirror screens, as standard, as well as rainwater collecting gutters, solar roofing and a car and house battery pack. So the future looks bright, and it certainly looks smart.


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