www.dezigngenie.

com  VOL 9  No 7  March 2017  `150/US$10/AED 30

®

INDIA

Smart
Living
How India is rapidly
catching up with Global
home automation trends.

Made In
Malibu
Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s newest
residential creation is a melting pot
of different eras and cultures.

Pranked in
Style
This Gurgaon pub takes you
on a trip down memory lane
with its campus themed décor.

Trend Alert: A curated list of beautiful products to bring the festival of colours home.
 SPOTLIGHT Cover Story
Photo Courtesy: WOW Architects

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This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
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In this home, fully integrated lighting, HVAC and
multi-media systems, enable the owner to control the
lighting, shades, room temperatures and even music
with a control interface unit or an app.
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This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.DezignGenie.com/cwinteriors or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
Living
Smart
Smart homes, with a host of intelligent and
connected gadgets and systems, have elevated
residential spaces into a different orbit altogether.
G lobally, smart homes are moving towards total
automation with automatic systems for lighting,
cooling, entertainment, security, cooking and
bathing etc., all of which can be programmed using a
main controller or via a smart phone from anywhere in
the world. India is not far behind.
“The smart home concept is gradually catching up in
India. Improved living standards, growing awareness
about security and energy-saving benefits,
current government policies for developing
smart cities have all provided the boost”,
states Thanik B, Director - Business
Development & Strategy, Eco-Buildings
Business, Schneider Electric
India.
Concur Zubin Zainuddin and
Krupa Zubin, Principal Architects,
ZZ Architects: “Smart homes are no
longer perceived a luxury but a necessity
in contemporary homes. The new-age
Indian consumers are on the lookout for smart
home network solutions that provide an entire range of
utility services. The trend has just begun and will surely
penetrate to all sectors in the years to come. The need of
the hour though is more awareness, less gimmicks and
focus on service and deliverables.”
Demand Drivers
Although home automation is still at a nascent stage
in India, it is poised for high growth, predict industry

CW Interiors | March 2017 | 39
 SPOTLIGHT Cover Story

This interlinks the electrical, multi-media and telecommunication

worlds enabling users to monitor, control and access their homes from
their smartphone, computer or tablet.
Schneider Electric India
Photo Courtesy:

Photo Courtesy: Philips Lighting India

professionals. Higher disposable incomes, changing

lifestyles, increase in the number of working couples,
need for enhanced security and energy conservation, have
increased the demand for automated homes in India too,
particularly in high-end homes and in cities like Mumbai,
Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Lately, the demand has
permeated to other income groups say industry pundits.
“Demand for home automation has been coming from
all income groups in the last 2-3 years with the growing
popularity of connected devices like smartphones, tablets
etc. However, on the supply side, home automation
is being provided by only a few reputed
developers”, says Prateek Bhattacharya,
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Lodha
Group, which has introduced home
automation solutions in their projects
Lodha Bellissimo, World Towers, Lodha
Luxuria Priva, Lodha Aristo among others.
Photo Courtesy: ZZ Architects

According to industry professionals the home

Preset dimmers and curtains for different
times of the day ensures optimum usage of
sunlight and artificial light in this living room.
automation market in India is growing with applications
such as security, lighting and energy management playing
an important role.
“From a functional requirement, lighting has
transformed into a lifestyle product, playing a vital role
in defining the look and feel of a room. The emergence of
LED lighting has opened up new opportunities as it can

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This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.DezignGenie.com/cwinteriors or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
 Photo Courtesy: Godrej Security Solutions
This wireless
home alarm
system can
inform the
owners of any
intrusion or
burglary.

The prevalent trend in

security solutions is to
integrate all systems on one
common platform. The swift
adoption of Smartphones
and innovative products
being developed are
ensuring that this integration
takes place at a rapid pace

Photo Courtesy: Godrej Security Solutions

This web-enabled LED home lighting system, allows the
user to change the brightness and colour of the light with
an app to create an ambience and save energy.

be digitally connected to a network. Just a simple switch

to LED lighting can help consumers reduce their energy
consumption by up to 50 per cent. Connected lighting
with natural light sensors, occupancy sensors
and motion sensors among others can
further enhance energy conservation” See and speak to visitors without opening the
says Harshavardhan Chitale, Vice door with a video door phone.
Chairman and Managing Director,
Philips Lighting India. Top Trends
Security too is driving While India is moving from wired to wireless connection
the demand, albeit slowly and more automation, security and lighting systems are
maintains Mehernosh Pithawalla, dominating the market, maintain industry professionals.
Associate Vice President and “Home automation in India currently trends on four
Global Head - Marketing, Sales & segments – lighting, security, audio/video and HVAC
Innovation, Godrej Security Solutions (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning). Lighting
Division, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. is the largest component of the residential market.
“As the number of working couples grow, so Current trends include voice control, small systems,
do concerns about the safety of small children and elders nice looking networking, bigger touch panels, indoor air
who are left alone at home. This has fuelled the need for quality monitoring, motorized shades, DIY solutions, and
advanced home security solutions, which allow owners maximum integration,” reveals Thanik.
to monitor their homes 24x7. However, the adoption of In the security area too integration is the buzzword
advanced security solutions is still at a low in India. The points out Pithawalla. “The prevalent trend in security
reason could be the technology itself, which is not easy for solutions is to integrate all systems on one common
an average consumer to understand. Hence there is a need platform. The swift adoption of smart phones and
to focus on simple and affordable DIY security systems to innovative products being developed are ensuring that this
attract first time buyers.” integration takes place at a rapid pace”, he says.


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This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.DezignGenie.com/cwinteriors or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
 SPOTLIGHT Cover Story
Photo Courtesy: WOW Architects

The smart controls in this dining space allow

the user to organise varied functions from an
intimate dinner party to a family gathering.

Lighting control systems are also quite popular which

help in not only saving energy but also in monitoring
energy use. “Globally and in India Smart lighting is
quickly becoming the trend. The costs in India
and around the world are dropping, expediting
the trends in the market place” states Justin
Moench, Senior Associate l, New York,
AWA Lighting Designers.“Smart home
lighting products can have many benefits,
but its primary marketable goal is the ability
to save energy. The retrofit market started to
become a trend in 2007 when the EU (European
Union) announced that it would phase out incandescent
lamps. Since then the LED light source has flooded the
market with light fixtures and LED retrofit lamps that are
Photo Courtesy: Roca Bathroom Productsia

energy efficient”, elaborates Moench.

Tech Takeover
Kitchens too are getting hi-tech. A smartphone
controllable cooker that keeps a meal ready when one
reaches home, a refrigerator that catalogues its contents
and orders replacements – these are just two examples
of a host of cool connected appliances entering the
smart kitchens. “Technology-driven features ensuring Bathrooms are seeing innovations in techonology which
convenience, colour co-ordinated interiors, ample help ensure maximum flushing performance.
storage space and state-of-the-art appliances, noise-free

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magazine visit www.DezignGenie.com/cwinteriors or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
 Photo Courtesy: H&R Johnson India
These kitchens come with seamless, laser-welded edges, handle-less fronts providing a
linear uniform appearance while recessed handles allow for comfortable access to doors,
drawers and pull outs.

A smartphone controllable
cooker that keeps meals ready
when one reaches home, a
refrigerator that catalogues its
contents and orders
replacements – these are just
two examples of a host of cool
connected appliances entering
smart kitchens.

mechanisms, hands-free faucets, lights inside

the cabinets are the trends today in the
kitchen”, reveals Pankaj Sharma, President
– Johnson Bathrooms & Kitchens, H&R
Johnson (India).
Washrooms are not far behind either. Hi-tech products,
like electronic seats and covers, automated sensor


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This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.DezignGenie.com/cwinteriors or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
 SPOTLIGHT Cover Story
Photo Courtesy: Roca Bathroom Productsia
equipped fittings, multi jet shower panels,
rain showers are invading the washrooms
too. Says KE Ranganathan, MD Designate,
Roca Bathroom Products Pvt Ltd.,
“The trends in India, especially in the
lifestyle domain, are inspired by international
standards. As a result, electronic faucets,
automated sensor enabled fittings and smart toilets are in
demand not only for ease of use, but also for their energy
and water-saving properties. In addition to technology
enabled products, there is a rising trend of concept
washrooms and coordinated sanitaryware, fittings and
accessories.”
44 | CW Interiors | March 2017
This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.DezignGenie.com/cwinteriors or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
The smart WC with heated seat, backrest, automatic flush and
lid lifting system, user-friendly remote control.
Material Makeover
With rising energy costs, depleting natural resources,
greener materials are gaining ground in smart homes with
glass leading the list. With advances in glass technologies,
improvement in thermal insulation performance, glazing
has become an essential construction material for smart
homes. “Glass has emerged as one of the
favoured materials”, confirms Vikram
Khanna, Chief Operating Officer –
Consumer Glass, and Chief Marketing
officer, Asahi India Glass Ltd. “Apart
from being an ideal material for creating
a stylish ambience and meeting tailor-made
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 Photo Courtesy: Asahi India Glass
Power on... Power off...
The glass which can be turned from transparent to translucent and vice versa, ensures instant privacy and can provide
anti-theft protection with the interlayer acting as a security film resisting any kind of intrusion.

requirements, it is also eco-friendly as it is recyclable. A

varied range of high-performance and energy-efficient Robots can clean floors,
glasses also reflect or absorb heat while allowing natural
light inside a room, thus saving on energy.” windows, walls, ceilings,
Robots Reign
swimming pools and mow
Entry of robots into Smart homes is another interesting lawns. They can also purify
development. Many futurists predict that in the next
few decades, robots - humanoid or those with functional
the air, provide surveillance,
form - will be in every household. “Robots can clean and entertain you.
floors, windows, walls, ceiling, swimming pool and mow
lawns. They can also purify the air, provide surveillance,
entertain you, manage your schedule or ensure
your telepresence from a distant location”,

Photo Courtesy: Milagrow Business &

says Rajeev Karwal, Founder Director,
Milagrow Business & Knowledge
Solutions Pvt. Ltd. “The residential robotic
floor vacuum cleaners market size in India is

Knowledge Solutions
about 250 crore of which the robotic vacuum
cleaners have about 4 percent of it currently. It is
expected to grow to about 30 percent by 2020. For other
robots like window, pool, lawn the market size is too low
but it will surely grow. In the robotic vacuum cleaner
market, 3D mapping is a major innovation that will
happen in the future”, predicts Karwal. This robotic lawn mower can be programmed to run at a specific time of
the day. It has 13 sensors including sensors that stop the blades when
lifted, detect obstacles and go back to base in case of rain.
Future Forward
The way forward is no doubt exciting and promising.
However, there are barriers to a wider acceptance of technology eroding owners’ privacy as it gives more
smart homes in India, which include lack of awareness, information to the home automation companies; and
high implementation costs, complexity of systems, linking being vulnerable to hackers and criminals. Thanks to
disparate systems etc. The cost of smart systems is constant technological advancements, these barriers will
directly linked to the number of components, interface surely be addressed and overcome.
used, and complexity of design of software and hardware.
There are also concerns about home automation Text: Janaki Krishnamoorthi

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This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.DezignGenie.com/cwinteriors or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.