PROJECT: THE CHICKEN SHED // INTEGRATOR: ATELIER LUUXX
Brief
Set in a converted barn in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, The Chicken Shed is a high-end residential entertainment space designed for immersive family movie nights, social gatherings, and multi-use leisure experiences.
Working closely with the client, Atelier Luuxx was appointed to design and deliver a smart control solution that would enhance the user experience while keeping operation simple and intuitive. The client required a system capable of supporting a variety of moods and activities within a single space, while remaining easy to use for a first-time smart home owner.
As the cinema barn is separate from the main residence, remote access was also essential to allow the space to be fully prepared in advance. Lighting, heating and entertainment systems needed to be ready before arrival, ensuring a seamless experience from the moment the space is entered.
A further key requirement was maintaining a clean, design-led interior with discreet controls that would not compromise the aesthetics of the finished barn conversion.
Solution
KNX was selected as the core automation platform due to its flexibility, reliability and wide ecosystem of compatible manufacturers. This allowed the system to be tailored precisely to the project’s functional and aesthetic requirements.
The installation provides full KNX control of lighting and heating throughout the barn, enabling complete environmental management depending on use. These systems are integrated with a Control4 platform to unify audio-visual and environmental control into a single cohesive experience.
To ensure intuitive operation, Ekinex keypads were installed throughout the space. These provide elegant, minimal interfaces with pre-programmed scene control, allowing the user to switch effortlessly between cinema, music and social settings.
Remote access functionality was also implemented, enabling the client to pre-condition the space before arrival. This ensures lighting levels, temperature and system states are optimised in advance for comfort and convenience.
Benefits
The KNX system delivers a highly intuitive and streamlined user experience, removing complexity while enhancing functionality. Scene-based control allows the entire environment to transform instantly, supporting different moods and entertainment scenarios with a single touch.
Energy efficiency is significantly improved through intelligent automation of lighting and heating, ensuring systems operate only when required. This contributes to reduced energy consumption and a more sustainable overall footprint.
The integration of KNX with Control4 provides a unified control experience, simplifying operation across both environmental and entertainment systems.
In addition, the system’s flexibility ensures it can be expanded or adapted in the future, protecting the client’s investment and allowing the space to evolve alongside new technologies or changing lifestyle needs.
Result
The finished installation delivers a seamless blend of luxury, simplicity, and performance. The Chicken Shed now operates as a fully immersive entertainment environment that is effortless to control, despite its underlying technical sophistication. Whether hosting a film night or a social event, the space can be transformed instantly through intuitive scene control.
Behind the scenes, KNX provides a stable and future-proof foundation that ensures reliability, energy efficiency and long-term adaptability. The result is a smart entertainment space that enhances user experience without ever drawing attention to the technology driving it.
Delivered by Atelier Luuxx, the project demonstrates how KNX can be used to create highly refined, design-led residential spaces where comfort, control and atmosphere work in perfect harmony.