Product category:
Electrical Services
News Release from: Schneider Electric | Subject: Intelligent Home Control (IHC)
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 September 2004
21st Century Technology To 15th Century
Barn
Specifying Intelligent Home Control (IHC) provided a stunning venue that enhances the building's 15th Century origins with 21st Century lighting and security.
The secluded Devon village of Higher Ashton looks set to attract increased interest following the restoration and conversion of a local landmark, The Great Barn, into a modern conference venue, thanks to Square D's Intelligent Home Control Because The Great Barn is a historically significant property, the restoration needed to combine the construction talents of West Country builders with modern conference venue amenities, such as fully controllable lighting, but without any visible switches or cabling
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 31 Oct 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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By specifying Intelligent Home Control (IHC) the owners, Emma and John Birkin, were able to meet those demands and provide a stunning venue that enhances the building's 15th Century origins with 21st Century lighting and security.
Emma Birkin said, "We can create the mood needed for any event because the IHC system allows us to change the lighting remotely and without any fuss or noise.
If you look around now, the glow of the lights on the stone and slate floors, combined with the warmth the lights bring to the elm doors, gives it a truly fabulous atmosphere." The 24m long, 10m high and 7.5m wide, Grade II listed building had fallen into disrepair and caught fire twice over the years.
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The last fire destroyed the roof that was then repaired with a temporary corrugated steel structure.
Meeting the reconstruction demands called for innovative thinking from Square D's Approved Installer, K L Owen Electrical Services, since the 2,000 m of cabling could not be embedded in the walls.
However, the owners were keen to restore the roof to its former glory and commissioned local craftsmen to build a pitched roof using traditional materials and methods, including several 1.5 tonne oak A-frames, oak beams and thatch.
K L Owen was able to use the oak beams to conceal the cable runs while the 48 remotely controlled lights are situated in the open eaves where the roof meets the walls.
A hand-held infrared control device that actuates an under floor control unit allows every light in The Great Barn to be individually dimmed and rotated in any direction needed to create the correct ambience.
Twelve of the lights are fitted with IHC passive infrared (PIR) detectors giving The Great Barn added security by activating the lights and the alarm automatically if a break-in happens.
Because IHC is fully programmable the lighting can be pre-set to create different levels of ambience as needed for added functionality.
Smoke detectors are also fitted to the IHC system to switch on emergency escape lighting if a fire happens.
Concealed wiring and connections for a wide range of audio-visual and other conference facilities has been fitted.
Kevin Owen, Managing Director of KL Owen commented, "We recommended IHC for this contract because it can easily provide all of the functions that Emma and John wanted, especially the flexibility given by the remote control system".
The Great Barn comprises the main hall and an adjoining roundhouse that was once used to drive the main threshing machinery using horses.
Part of the former drive mechanism remains in place in the main entrance adding to the building's ambience.
The restoration project's significance helped the owners to gain financial aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that was conditional on the building meeting a number of constraints on materials, design and construction.
Higher Ashton is about eight miles from Exeter and in the scenic Teign Valley.
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