A detached house in Upper Austria has undergone extensive modernisation and been transformed into a smart home with KNX technology, including our Controlmicro touch panel. The project clearly demonstrates how the new smart system enhances comfort, security and energy efficiency – from the basement all the way up to the roof.
From a traditional house to a smart home
The existing house was renovated in several construction phases over the course of around two years and completed in early 2023. An additional upper floor was added, the existing parts of the building were modernised, and the entire property was fully equipped with KNX.
The company responsible for the KNX retrofit was Petric Elektrotechnik GmbH from Waizenkirchen, Austria. The family-run business became aware of our touch panels through recommendations and the Light + Building trade fair and used them for the first time in this project. All distribution systems were renewed – from the power network to coaxial cables – with an impressive total of 3,000 to 4,000 metres of cable laid. The installation of the actual KNX components was completed within two to three months.
The basement, which houses the heating system, sauna, utility room and a bedroom, was also retrofitted. During the renovation phase, parts of the basement even served as a temporary living and sleeping area for the family. Afterwards, a completely new room layout was created for the whole family across all floors.
Controlmicro: The central control unit
At the heart of the new smart home is the Controlmicro, which – in combination with our YOUVI visualisation – handles numerous control functions throughout the house. After a short familiarisation period, the family quickly came to appreciate the clear YOUVI user interface and its intuitive control options. In everyday use, the panel is mainly used for settings and as an intercom, while most other controls are carried out via the YOUVI app.
From lighting and shading control on the upper and lower floors to ventilation management and fire alarm monitoring – the Controlmicro with YOUVI covers all the desired areas, providing the family with greater comfort and an enhanced sense of security.
The multi-room audio system with trivum has also been integrated. Using the trivum bridge for YOUVI, the sound system was seamlessly incorporated into the visualisation and can be easily accessed and controlled by the residents via the corresponding widget whenever needed.
Visually, the Controlmicro fits perfectly into the stylish living environment of the house. On the upper floor, an open and elegant floor plan extends from the entrance area with an open office, through the living and dining areas, to the kitchen. Particularly clever: The small KNX touch panel hangs in the middle of a picture gallery and, with its changing screensavers, serves as the perfect finishing touch to the artwork.
Who is at the door? Door communication directly via YOUVI
The panel itself is primarily used as an intercom. A DoorBird door station was installed and integrated into YOUVI via the ETS project. With the purchase of the DoorBird door station, the need for a separate video intercom and additional panel was eliminated, saving not only money but also simplifying the operation.
The front door is controlled via a KNX actuator with an IP command and can be opened through YOUVI. The residents can see directly in the visualisation who has rung the doorbell and open the front door. When they come home, the family can use the Controlmicro to check who rang the bell while they were away. During the ringing, three images are captured by the door station’s camera and stored in the gallery.
Custom automations thanks to the YOUVI logic module
The logic module adds an extra level of comfort to the new smart home. For example, lighting in the hallways and WC is controlled via presence detection and automatically adjusts between three brightness levels depending on the time of day and natural light.
A custom logic has also been set up for the hallway outside the children’s rooms. When the doors are open and the children are asleep, the hallway lighting is dimmed in response to motion to avoid waking them. The motion sensors can also be deactivated when needed – for instance, when the parents check on the children at night.
The logic module also uses the integrated DoorBird door station to mute the doorbell on the panel during quiet hours, such as the midday rest period.
Security as a top priority
The family places great importance on data protection and security. For this reason, no voice control is currently used in the house. However, a non-cloud-based solution like Aragon from ProKNX is a future option.
Remote access for the integrator is handled exclusively via VPN through the YOUVI app, not via the Connect module. Since the integrator is based in a neighbouring town, they can quickly come by if needed.
What’s next – energy management and more
The next item on the smart home to-do list is energy monitoring. The existing PV system and heat pump are set to be integrated to crank up the home’s energy efficiency even further. And if the family fancies more features down the line – no problem, plenty of room for future upgrades.
Smart technology that meets every need
This project in Austria demonstrates how existing buildings can be successfully upgraded into future-ready smart homes using modern KNX technology.
From the new KNX wiring to the control solution with our Controlmicro and the YOUVI software, all the residents’ expectations regarding comfort, usability and efficiency were fully met. As a reliable partner, we were able to win over both the integrator and the homeowners with our expertise and support.
This smart single-family home is a flagship project and a shining example of how powerful and adaptable modern KNX technology can be – tailored to meet each resident’s individual needs.
If you’d like to control your building with our smart KNX touch panel, feel free to find out more:
