Lake Como, located in Northern Italy, has been a tourist destination known for its microclimate, inspired scenery and historic villas since Roman times. In 2014 it was named “the most beautiful lake in the world” by online newspaper, The Huffington Post. Dotted with prestigious villas and villages that are home to many famous people, the legendary architectural design blends into the unique setting of Lake Como.
A residential complex consisting of four villas overlooking the lake has recently been completed in Torno. The new structures are enriched by technology that increases the comfort of the homes.
The villas have been built to create an ecosystem that integrates the best of ABB's smart home solutions including home automation and a video entry system to provide a unique solution for security, comfort, and energy efficiency.
The technological "heart" of the villas is the ABB i-bus® KNX system, chosen for the features that make it the most widespread building automation system in the world. Based on an open standard, which allows it to manage the numerous KNX devices of any brand available on the market, the system is automated and customized according to the need and preferences of the occupants.
ABB's KNX Web server makes it possible to create an advanced system starting from the customization of light switches, integrating the commands for temperature control, and managing the ABB-Welcome M video entry system. The tailored and connected system can be managed from inside the home, or remotely from a smartphone.
Mylos, the Italian standard wiring accessories range of ABB, provides an array of shapes and colors to bring harmony to the villas. A rectangular version with a black finish adds a distinctive element to the lighted walls.
The ABB-Welcome system is an advanced connected door entry system that can be managed via smartphone in addition to the panels installed inside the villa. The outdoor video station is equipped with a 180° infrared wide-angle camera that allows viewing access to the villa even in the absence of light. This way, you do not notice the camera is on the outside of the home.
Users can access the video entry system from inside using several touch screens, which in this solution are white, distinguishing them from the wiring accessories and blending with the wall color. All the functions can be activated by touch controls in the large display, that when in standby mode turns into a digital photo frame.
Designed for ease of use, it has all the functions of advanced door entry systems including the possibility of adding unique customization features. These features include uploading a melody to be used as a ringtone and recording a video message from the visitor by activating the "out of home" mode. With functionality and security at the heart of the system, the "Image Memory" function allows you to store images of unanswered calls, so you can see who visited when no one was home.
Flavio Lodi Rizzini, owner of Lorim, a home automation company for the villas, discussed the use of ABB solutions in the project: “This system allows us to install complex home automation that meets all customization requests of the occupant. Choosing ABB solutions means we can count on innovative, future-proof products and guarantee reliable technical support, if needed. For this villa, ABB's offer satisfied not only the functionality but also the requirements related to the design of the functional elements, that had to be harmoniously integrated into the particular architectural context of this house.”
Architect Gianpaolo Sala, founder of OFICINASGA design studio who designed the interior of one of the villas, said, “The idea was to create a container for the exterior with the guarantee of visual permeability from any point of view in the entire house, with the lake as the backdrop.”
With ABB technology, the system meets the needs for comfort, safety, and energy efficiency, especially if the system is already designed to update over time with the introduction of new features that will be available gradually. This way, the system can be expanded and modified over time to meet the needs of the people who live in it…a house in continuous evolution that defines the concept of a "smart home" by ABB.
