Built in 1930, the subject of this technology retrofit is considered a historic and architectural landmark in Los Angeles County. With installation and integration services provided by Future Automation & Design, the property is considered to be the firm’s most extensive smart home project to date with more than 600 outdoor lighting and audio products being installed across the landscape.
The estate itself has a rich design heritage, having been previously gifted to the landscape architect brothers that designed Palos Verdes Estates in Southern California and Central Park in New York City. Paying tribute to these iconic design influencers, it was important to the current owner that the new exterior lighting system be as visually stunning as possible.
Another concern for the clients was that the audio and lighting system be durable as well, being able to stand up to harsh weather conditions that are often found along California’s coastal cliffs.
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
“Rockslides and erosion are common along the area’s shoreline, which often necessitates frequent modifications to the construction and design of outdoor living spaces so we knew the technology solutions would need to be able to evolve and adapt easily to topography changes,” says Future Automation & Design President and CEO Patrick Coleman.
“This homeowner had already made a large investment in cliffside pylons to protect the property from weather and ocean related damage, so the outdoor speakers and lighting solutions needed to be top quality.”
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
Prior to getting started on the project, Future Automation & Design presented the client with their vision for the property, suggesting that Coastal Source would be able to stand up to the often-harsh climate along the Californian coast.
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
While the owners weren’t opposed to the number of light fixtures and speakers peppering the landscape, patios, gardens and other outdoor areas, they were unfamiliar with Coastal Source, so to demonstrate Coastal Source sent its fully outfitted product van to the client’s home for an in-person preliminary experience. Afterwards, the homeowners were sold.
“Having so many fixtures and placement options afforded more opportunity to apply our lighting artistry to the residence – to really accentuate the magnificent architectural features and natural beauty of the landscape,” Coleman emphasizes.
Still, there was no way escaping the natural transformation of the surrounding terrain caused by wind, waves, and salt air. For this, Future Automation & Design relied on Coastal Source’s Coastal Connector cabling system to streamline the relocation and addition of fixtures and speakers to adapt and evolve easily as the terrain morphed.
“Coastal’s flexible cabling which eliminates the need to cut, splice and waterproof in the field was crucial to this integration,” Coleman remarks.
“We didn’t need to trench conduits and the plug-and-play cabling architecture allows the system to grow and change along with the environment.”
Every inch of the cliffside estate is illuminated and blanketed in rich, high-fidelity audio, courtesy of a wide range of fixture designs, including Coastal Source path lighting, uplighting, niche lighting, flush-mount lighting and bollard speakers and subwoofers.
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
The lighting design was so extensive, Future Automation & Design tackled it in several phases, starting with the installation of 210 fixtures in Phase 1, 228 fixtures in Phase 2, 139 fixtures in Phase 3, and finally, 50 fixtures in Phase 4.
At least 50 percent of the lighting fixtures had to be retrofitted into existing hardscape, so Future Automation & Design used their retrofit expertise to achieve the best results. Coastal Source speakers were added throughout each step of the ongoing project.
Once the outdoor improvements were complete, Future Automation & Design buttoned up the schematics and installation of Coastal Source speakers and light fixtures, automating them via a Control4 system with Josh.ai voice control.
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
The lights activate automatically at sunset and simple commands spoken to a Josh.ai voice assistant handle the delivery of music and more specific lighting requests.
With the Coastal Source lighting and audio systems firmly established, the owners now use their outdoor living spaces more than ever before, for parties, weddings, and other social events throughout the year.
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
Photo/Johnathan Young Photography
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