Bleeding-edge homes
When money is no object, the possibilities for a high-tech home are endless. Three-dimensional televisions, automated baths and 360degree mirrors are just some of the gadgets being incorporated into properties.
Some technology-obsessed homeowners are spending up to four times the cost of their property on state-of-the-art gizmos and the bill often runs to millions.
“Some people are happily spending £20m (€25m) on high-tech features,” says Jeremy MicGivern, director of London-based property finder Mercury Homesearch. “The new breed of billionaires has moved on to ‘ulti-buys’ – ultimate products, or properties, with the ultimate specification.”
Popular gadgets include a timedelay mirror that allows you to get a decent view of your behind and the Bathomatic (about £4,000), that enables you to run a bath on your way home by activating it through an iPhone or similar mobile device.
A top-end multi-media system from a manufacturer such as Crestron will cost £28,000, while a fridgefreezer with touch-screen controls, voice memory recorder and child lock might set you back £10,000 (they are popular with wealthy parents trying to control the eating habits of their obese children).
To tap the growing demand for high-tech chic, specialist fi tting companies are springing up. The best are vetted by the international Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (www.cedia.net).
In France, the leading name is Parisbased Audire while in Germany Systemintegration is the only Cedia certified company. Switzerland’s best are Homecinema and Smart Home while Audio Video Design is top-rated in Italy.
Ken Weller, a director at UK specialist Martin Kleiser, says one of the biggest challenges is ensuring fittings won’t quickly be out-of-date.
“It’s all about future-proofi ng. If a client says they don’t want fibre-optic cables wired through the house, we might just install it anyway. High-tech features can increase the value of a property by 10%, so the owners will thank us for it when they sell.”
According to Giles Green, director at London-based property developer Morpheus, there is growing demand for cutting-edge technology, as long as it is easy to use. “No one wants to have to read a 50-page manual to know how to turn the lights on.”
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
reddit
StumbleUpon