Project: Kaminzimmer
Modernization and renovation work on a house are often a welcome opportunity to use individual rooms differently than before. This was also the case with this project in Ahlen, where the owner wanted to transform a now available room into a media and fireplace lounge.
The Assignment
During a renovation, a retreat was to be created in the customer's house that would allow for both cozy evenings in front of the fireplace and high-quality film and music enjoyment. A challenge that Auditorium was happy to take on. The client placed great value on good picture quality, but above all on high-quality and hi-fi-capable sound reproduction. In addition, the necessary technology was to be integrated so discreetly into the ambiance designed by an interior designer that, despite its capabilities, it remained as invisible as possible.
Well Planned ...
Project planner Jan Wagner from Auditorium recalls: "When we were entrusted with the project, there was already a draft for the room and the execution planning had just begun. At this point, we were still able to contribute our ideas and requirements and, together with the architect and the other trades, realize the optimal result for the client." The result of the joint efforts of everyone involved is impressive. Special emphasis was placed on a visually appealing and perfectly crafted integration of the system into the elaborately designed interior of the room. This required extremely detailed planning in advance by the experts from Auditorium, down to the routing of individual cables. After the intensive planning phase, all the necessary components were ordered so that, together with the carpenter, a millimeter-precise fitting of all elements could be achieved. The result was an elegant and cozy room, which at first glance is dominated by the individually designed fireplace with the comfortable living area in front of it—its technical 'secrets,' however, only gradually reveal themselves.
Versatile Solutions
The 55-inch television, which can be used at any time for quick TV enjoyment, is immediately noticeable. It benefits sonically from the three high-quality in-wall speakers from Bowers & Wilkins, which were integrated around the television behind individually lacquered grilles in the wall paneling. The surround signals are handled by in-wall speakers from Sonance. For movie nights (and for the favorite football team's matches of the homeowner), the room can be transformed into a real cinema at the touch of a button. For this, a 3.20-meter-wide cinemascope screen descends from the ceiling paneling. To enable the largest possible image, an acoustically transparent screen fabric from Stewart is used, which drops down in front of the built-in speakers. The previously invisible projector (JVC DLA-X55R) appears from behind its flap, and automatic curtains darken the windows for optimal contrast.
Hidden Technology
In this media room, a Blu-ray player and AV receiver from Denon and an Apple TV are used as sources. Additionally, a Media Source 600 was used to connect to the existing Sooloos multiroom system from Meridian installed in the house. All the technology disappears inconspicuously into a media rack from Middle Atlantic. This not only allows for optimal placement, cable management, and ventilation of all components but also provides quick access to all installed devices when needed. The entire media room is controlled by a Control4 automation system and can be operated either via a bi-directional remote control or an iPad app. For the iPad, by the way, an elegant magnetic mount from LaunchPort is used, in which the tablet is automatically charged inductively. The quality of the media room meets the client's justifiably high expectations. The built-in speakers from B&W deliver the same high-quality sound that you would expect from the brand's floor-standing speakers, offer music enjoyment at the highest level, and naturally reproduce film soundtracks with detail and impact. The D-ILA projector from JVC works together with the Greyhawk screen from Stewart to produce an impressive picture with an extremely natural film look.
The Result
Here, high-quality technology meets convenient operation and absolutely perfect integration. This is only possible with detailed planning in advance, which requires a lot of experience. This experience should not be limited to one’s own products and solutions; the planner must also know and understand the possibilities and requirements of the other trades. Only in this way is it possible to communicate with everyone involved on equal footing and to achieve the best result for the customer together.
Special Features
"In projects of this scale, you bring a lot of knowledge to the table, but you always learn something new," emphasizes Auditorium expert Wagner. "For example, here we worked together with the carpenter for a long time on the flap behind which the projector was to be hidden. In the end, our technicians succeeded in adapting an opening mechanism from furniture construction so that it can be automatically opened and closed via our media control." Dozens of such individual detailed solutions can be found in every project—sometimes more, sometimes less complex. The outcome, however, is always the same: high-quality picture and sound paired with reliable, convenient operation, united with the customer's individual wishes and requirements to create a unique solution. And when everything comes together as successfully as in this room, it becomes a place where you’re happy to get comfortable—whether with or without music.