The spacious urban villa in the Rhein-Main area impresses with a modern design and intelligent technology after a complete renovation. The PEAKnx Controlpro serves as the central control unit for the building automation in the living-dining area. For the first time, the installation of the 18.5'' large KNX touch panel flush with the wall was realized here. The flush-mounted variant gives the control panel a very elegant look and fits perfectly with the rest of the interior design.
House control via the permanently installed KNX panel
All electrical components such as lamps, blinds, heating and air conditioning, alarm system, the Sonos sound system, weather station and intercom are integrated into the KNX system of the city villa. A Gira home server runs in the background. All statuses and functions can be monitored and controlled via the two installed Controlpro KNX panels from PEAKnx. "I wanted to install a central control panel with a large display in the house. The 18.5'' large Controlpro from PEAKnx was recommended to me," reports the owner. The PEAKnx panels run on Windows 10 IoT LTSC base. In addition to using the included YOUVI visualization, this also enables the use of all Windows- and web-based visualizations as well as other Windows applications. A control panel is installed centrally in the open living-dining area on the first floor. "Since we also want to keep an eye on the camera surveillance via the control panel, the central location in the living-dining area and the large display are perfect. Whether you're sitting on the couch, looking at it from the hallway or walk past it - you can always see what's happening on the property," the building owner enthuses. The second device was placed in the hallway on the upper floor.
Innovative adapter frame for flush wall installation
"When Andreas Ramos (Head of Sales at PEAKnx) presented the new flush wall mounting variant to me, I was immediately convinced," says the homeowner. PEAKnx developed a separate adapter frame made of aluminum for the flush with wall installation variant of the Controlpro panel. "The biggest challenge was to find a way to design the filler edge. Several materials have to be connected here: the aluminum of the frame, the putty, and the wall. This poses the risk of tension cracks," explains Gerald Palmsteiner, Head of Product Management at PEAKnx. The innovative design of the adapter frame prevents such problems. The adapter has an additional gap which prevents tension cracks. The aluminum frame, milled from a single block, scores with its stability, good thermal conductivity and a high-quality finish. Installation flush with the surface is possible both in cavity walls and masonry with the special adapter frame.
Precise work required during installation
For mounting flush with the wall, the flush-mounting box must be set deeper than for normal flush-mounting in order to allow the panel to disappear completely into the wall. The special frame is screwed 4-point. During installation, it's important that the flush-mount box is right in the water and that the spacing is the same on all sides. "I was there for most of the installation steps. My impression was that the installation worked very well indeed," says the owner. In the modern urban villa, the surrounding aluminum edge of the adapter frame was filled over for a more discreet look. Only the shadow gap visually separates the panel from the wall. Alternatively, it is also possible to visibly incorporate the edge of the frame as a visual accent. "To achieve a good result, very careful work must be done when plastering" emphasizes Gerald Palmsteiner.
Mounting flush with the wall sets the scene for Controlpro
The flush wall version ideally integrates the Controlpro into the interior design of the completely remodeled city villa. The panel's interchangeable front glasses are available in various designs. In line with the elegant, high-quality design of the furniture in muted colors, the homeowner opted for classic black glass here. The living and dining area of the house is open in design and connected to the kitchen whose centerpiece is the free-standing cooking island. In the living area, a gas fireplace creates the right mood. The TV, which is built into the ceiling and can be extended electrically, creates a cinema atmosphere, as does the matching lighting scene, which can be selected via the panel.
Architecturally demanding complete rebuild
After the complete reconstruction by the Planungsbüro Korpus, the urban villa today comprises 465m² of living space. The old residential house was completely redesigned and raised based on the existing floor plan. The two floors and the basement are connected by a modern staircase with glass railings. After the conversion, the new building forms a self-contained architectural unit in Bauhaus style. It impresses with large glass fronts and unsupported cantilevers. In addition to the residential building and two double garages, the 1,463 m² plot also includes a spacious terrace and garden area. The green roof allows the family of 4 to save some energy costs. The greenery provides a pleasant indoor climate inside and at the same time protects the environment. The highlight in the outdoor area is the pool facility with sunbathing areas and shower. Of course, the technology for the outdoor area, such as the pool lighting, is also integrated into the KNX system.
The result convinces technically and visually
"I am very happy with the final result, both technically and visually. I would recommend both the Controlpro and the flush wall mounting at any time," sums up the building owner. In addition to the large Controlpro, PEAKnx has also developed an adapter frame for mounting the smaller 11.6'' Controlmini panel flush with the wall. The shadow gap, which provides the visual separation between the panel and the wall, can be optionally equipped with an LED strip by an electrician. This provides atmospheric background lighting for the panel. A flush mounting variant for the latest member of the PEAKnx touch panel family, the 8'' Controlmicro, is also already in planning.
